an extempore sermon, preached upon malt, by a way of caution to good fellows; at the request of two schollars, / by a lover of ale, out of a hallow [sic] tree. lover of ale. 1691 approx. 4 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). b02730 wing d1782e estc r176897 52614617 ocm 52614617 175838 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. b02730) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 175838) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2752:24) an extempore sermon, preached upon malt, by a way of caution to good fellows; at the request of two schollars, / by a lover of ale, out of a hallow [sic] tree. lover of ale. dod, john, 1549?-1645. 1 sheet ([1] p.) [s.n.], printed at london ; and reprinted at edinburgh : 1691. attributed to john dod by wing (2nd ed.). caption title. reproduction of original in: national library of scotland. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng temperance -great britain -early works to 1800. alcoholism -great britain -early works to 1800. broadsides -england -17th century. broadsides -scotland -17th century. 2008-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-09 megan marion sampled and proofread 2008-09 megan marion text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an extempore sermon , preached upon malt , by way of caution to good fellows ; at the request of two schollars , by a lover of ale , out of a hallow tree . why should the drunkard strive his acts to smother . drink runs but from one hog shead to another , beloved . let me crave your reverent attention , for i am a little man , come at a short warning , to preach a short sermon , upon a small subject , to a thin congregation ; in an unworthy pulpit . beloved . my text 't is malt. now i cannot divide it into sentences because 't is none , nor into words , it being but one ; not into syllables , because ( upon the whole matter ) ' ris but a monosyllable : therefore i must ( and necessity inforces me ) divide it into letters ; which i find in my text four , m , a , l , t , m , ( my beloved ) is moral . a , is allegorical ; l , is literal , and t , is theologwal . the moral is well set forth , to teach you drunkards good manners , wherefor m , my masters , a , all of you , l , listen , t , to my text. the allegorical , is , when one thing is spoken of , and another thing is meant ; the thing spoken of , is malt ; the thing meant is the oyl of malt ; strong beere ; which you rusticks make m , meat , a , apparel , l , liberty and t , treasure . the literal , is according to the letter , m , much , a , ale , l , little , t , thrift , much ale , little thrift . the theological , is according to the effects that it works which i find in my text , to be of two kinds ; first in this world , secondly , in the world to come . in this world the effects which it works , are in some m , murder ; in others , a , adultery ; in some , l , looseness of life ; in others , t , treason the effects which it worketh in the world to come are , m , misery ; a , anguish ; l , lamentation ; and t , torment . wherefore my first use shall be , a use of exhortation , m , masters a , all of you ; l , leave ; t , tipling ; or else by way of commination ; m , my masters ; a , all of you ; l , look for ; t , torment . and so much shall suffice for this tyme and text. only ( by way of caution ) take this . that a drunkard is the annoyance of modesty , the trouble of civility , the spoil of wealth , the destruction of reason , the brewers agent , the ale houses benefactor , the beggars companion , the constables trouble , his wifes woe , his childrens sorrow , his neighbours scoff , his own shame , a walking swill-tub , a picture of a beast , and a monster of a man. say well , and do well , end both with a letter , say well is good ; but do well is better . printed at london , and reprinted at edinburgh , 1691. poor robins character of an honest drunken curr with a relation of the frollicks of his life and conversation and his epitaph. poor robin. 1675 approx. 9 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2006-02 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a66704 wing w3072 estc r26428 09459283 ocm 09459283 43177 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a66704) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 43177) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1321:3) poor robins character of an honest drunken curr with a relation of the frollicks of his life and conversation and his epitaph. poor robin. winstanley, william, 1628?-1698. 8 p. printed by e.c. for c. huffey, london : 1675. "with permission" william winstanley is usually credited with authorship of the poor robin pamphlets--nuc pre-l956 imprints. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng alcoholism -anecdotes 2005-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-10 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2005-10 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion poor robins character , of an honest drunken curr : with a relation of the frollicks of his life , and conversation and his epitaph . with permission . london , printed by e. c. for c. hussey , at the bible in iewen street . 1675. poor robins character , of an honest drunken curr . he 's a pickel'd youth to be sure , for he always lyes steep'd in his own liquor ; of which like a whale , he carries so much about him , that when ever he disgorges , he may swim away in his own flood . clap but a good sucker into his belly , and he makes an excellent parish pump : and if you add but a pipe to his muzle , he may pass for a water engine , and do good service in time of fire ; you need not fear drawing him dry , so long as all the ale-houses , and taverns in town , like little rivulets , supply the decrease ; he contains about as much as those in churches ; but is so uncooth a trough , he 's twice as hard to be gauged : yet by frequent experience , he can guess his measure to a pint , specially if you except leakage : his veins are so thronged , and his blood so tainted with scurvey , gout , and dropsie , ( and a smatch of the french-man to boot , which he got when he was drunk , and does not know who to lay it too . ) that he defies the intrusion of any other distemper : wherefore he stalks in as much state through a pestilence ; as a well arm'd souldier through a shower of bullets , for his forementioned diseases have taken such large possession of his body , that there 's no room left for infection . he has drunk himself into a jelly , and is so moist , that if you squeese him , he drops like an orange . his body a perfect still , which he fuells with brandy , instead of char-coal ; being throughly heated , you may discern the sweaty distilation tricle from his face , as from the lid of a limbick , and if any chance to drop on his nose , you may hear it hiz as if it fell upon heated bricks . in fine though he always lives joakingly and merry , he hates nothing more then a dry jest . thus having acquainted you with his constitution , i shall only consider him in his conversation , and friendship , and so leave him to sleep out his nap . and first for his conversation , to take him in the morning ( for who can find him all the day after ) he prevents his pray'rs with a pipe of tobacco , and smoaks at such a rate as if he pr●fer'd sacrifice to devotion . a tinder-box is as necessary to him , as a green bagg to an atturney's clark , with which he seems as ravish'd as alexander with the odisses , for he cannot sleep unless it lye under his pillow . in that little night he makes , he cannot so properly said to sleep , as to chew the cudd 〈…〉 often disturbs the repose of a family , with muttering a repetition of his oaths , and healths when he awakes , he stares about with such wild curiosity , as one would fancy adam did immediately after his creation ; for he generally makes himself so drunk over night , drowning his past actions in liquor and oblivion , that he scarcely knows the morning from the resurrection , and is hardly perswaded that ever he lived before . but after he is convine'd of the affirmative spends about a quarter of an hour in examining the bed-posts and windows , before he discovers whether he be in his own lodging : and afterward remains as doubtful how he got thither . then bed-staves , and slip-shoo's go to wrack , for clattering on the bed-stead , like boys at the bear-garden ; he calls up the people as country wenches do swine , by knocking ; and after a petition for a cup of settle-brain , begs them to resolve his quaerie : whereupon they tell him the truth , which indeed is that either he came the old porterly way , crutch'd with a brace of watch-men ; or else the modern and more genteel way , viz. on pick-pack , instead of a sadan . now although my honest drunken curr be guilty of many vices , which like younger brothers hang on this great one which has got possession : yet ( give the devil his aue ) i think the world has sully'd his reputation with divers scandals of which he is no wise guilty : wherefore because i only intend his convertion not his consumption ; like an honest historian ( since i write his life ) i ought not to see him wrong'd , but rather to rescue him from those c 〈…〉 on him 〈…〉 the first imputation therefore that they impose on him is that he is proud , and why forsooth ? but because when he has a d 〈…〉 op in his eye , he brags and vapours as if he were a better man than his neighbours . a stout reason indeed ? as if any man might not do as much that were either light-headed , or in a fevour ; nay , a passion alone makes the wisest of us bethlehems . but let us do as we would be done by , and take him when he is himself , ( that is in a morning , ) and then i am sure he is as free from pride , as a quaker from good minners or ribbons : for would custome admit , i am confident he would never go to the ale-house naked , than undergo the hard pennance of sobriety the while he dresses himself . secondly , they call him an idle fellow ; a good fellow all the world knows he is , but as for idleness , let me dye if i know any one more free from it than he ; what would they know of him trow ? he rises early , sits up late ; and i dare swear he grudges himself his very sleep , because it keeps him from his businesse : when he is at it , no man more expeditious than he , for as if his minutes , like his estate , ran away too fast , you shall frequently see him with an ale-glass in one hand , and a looking-glass in the other , which betokens both speed and frugality . the third and most fallacious accusation is that they say , he 's prodigal , and pisses his estate against the wall. but i am confident he enriches nor perfumes the walls no more than others ; onely this i know he does , that whereas usurers use to hide their riches in earth pots , he puts his estate in a pewter one ( which one would think were the safer cabinet ) so that it is not the honest drunken cur , but the impudent rogues , drawers , and tapsters , that imbezle and make it away . much more might be said of him both in his vindication , and in commendation also : for he is one of the quietest subjects his majesty has , and most submissive to monarchyal government : he would not be without a king , if it were for no other reason than meerly drinking his health . he hates coffee as mahomatizm , and thinks it a lesser sin to go to bed drunk , than to drink it to make him sober . he hates a studious man as caeser did a lean one , and for the same reason , for he is so confident he 's hatching of treason , that he could find in his heart to impeach him at adventure . as for his friends he never troubles his head to pick and cull them , but takes them as superannuated maids do husbands , or fish-women do mackerel , as they come next to hand : for fixing himself in the next ale-house or tavern he comes at ; at first he sits as sullenly as a degraded courtier , or an insurer upon advice of a loss ▪ and no less than a quart of purle-royal , or two kicks in the guts can remove his morosity . after he has digested either of them , perchance he 'l vouchsafe to bless you with a smile , especially if you will purchase it at the expence of a bawdy song ; to which you shall see him turn head , and listen as heedfully as a lynnet to a flaijolet , but infinitely more easie to be taught . when you have done , t is twenty to one but he comes and hugs you ; swearing you are the most accomplisht gentleman that ever he met in his life ; and tho he never saw you before , from that time you may date his friendship : he makes friends faster than children do babies ; and like them too , he often forgets where he has left them . his reason like a bad shop-keeper is seldom at home , or rather like a country gentleman , has left the manour of his own body ; and is gone to dwell in strange lodgings : so that 't is no wonder , he 's hobgoblin'd by his fiery nose to any debauchery , or that men call him beast ; since by giving rains to his i sensuality , he makes so perfect a swine of himself , that he drinks till he can hardly grunt . however , since the church allows him christian burial , i 'le hopkins and sternhold him with an epitaph . here lyes drunken tom , vvhom heav'n in mercy save , he stumbel'd o're his death , and reel'd into his grave . finis . a vvarning to drunkards by the sad and suddain death of john woolman, of sarret, in the county of hartford. with a letter of exhortation written to the people on that sorrowful occasion. by william jole, minister of sarret. jole, william, d. ca. 1702. 1680 approx. 13 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a46993 wing j888 estc r216580 99828306 99828306 32733 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a46993) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 32733) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1950:14) a vvarning to drunkards by the sad and suddain death of john woolman, of sarret, in the county of hartford. with a letter of exhortation written to the people on that sorrowful occasion. by william jole, minister of sarret. jole, william, d. ca. 1702. 8 p. printed for n.p. and sold by rich. janua, in queens-head court, in pater-noster row, london : 1680. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng woolman, john, -of sanet -early works to 1800. alcoholism -england -early works to 1800. temperance -england -early works to 1800. 2003-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-02 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-06 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2003-06 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-08 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a uuarning to drunkards by the sad and suddain death of john woolman , of sarret , in the county of hartford . with a letter of exhortation written to the people on that sorrowful occasion . by william jole , minister of sarret . london , printed for n. p. and sold by rich. ianua , in queens-head court , in pater-noster row , 1680. a short narrative of the manner of his death . john woolman son of iohn woolman of sarret , was by trade a taylor , a young man of a very intemperate life , as some know that have kept his company ( oh that all such may be allarmed by his fatal end to amend their lives ) monday october the eleventh , he was at a house near sarret , called michlefield-green , where being too eager of strong-drink , what he had before he came thither , and what he added to his load there , grew too much for his brain ; it seems he told them , he would go upon the barley-mow to sleep , and being by some disswaded ( in regard it was a high mow ) possibly this might make his whimsical brain the more resolute to climb up , for when the brain is turned with drink impossible things seem easie to such a man , and a drunken man will venture on that which a sober man is afraid to look at . up he did climb , and is supposed to sleep there all night , but the next morning was found stone dead upon the flower , his hat remained on the top of the barley-mow ; how he fell down is unknown , because no body was in the barn when he fell : it was a clay flower , where his head pitched on a peble-stone , which brake a hole in his skul , and let out much blood and water . the letter to the people . loving neighbours , solomon saith , that a word fitly spoken , is like apples of gold in pictures of silver , prov. 25.11 . that is to say , it hath all that may invite our attention . surely then it is a fit time to speak to the ear , when god , by any dreadful iudgement doth speak to the eye . although my mouth is stopped at present , and i am denied to speak unto you in the pulpit , yet no law can hinder me from writing unto you ; and the end of my writing at this time is to exhort you to hear god , now loudly speaking unto every one of us by the dismal iudgment upon john woolman , calling on every one of us to repent and turn from our sinful courses , and more particularly calling upon every drunkard to forsake his drunkenness , beholding the woful effects of that sin in this sad example . it will not become a minister to aggravate the faults of the dead , my desire is to press upon the living to lay his woful end to heart . would you not have the iudgments of god to cut you off in your sins , and to stop your breath , before you have time to ask pardon ? then be exhorted and perswaded to repent , to day while it is called to day , and do not harden your hearts any longer against such warnings as this . we say , it is best striking while the iron 's hot , therefore admit this word of exhortation while there is some warmth remaining upon your souls , by that which you have seen or heard of the sudden death of this poor wretch ; happy and wise are those who take warning by other mens harms . let me desire you to read frequently those words , proverbs 29.1 . he that being often reproved , hardeneth his neck , shall suddenly be destroyed , and that without remedy . mayer , on those words saith , for all sins there is forgiveness , but for hardness of heart and neck , there is none ; and therefore , such cannot escape destruction . and then a man is judged to be thus hardned , when being often reproved , he relenteth not , but goeth on obstinately still in his sins . hear this , all ye swearers , and drunkards of sarret ; and though it is not a seemly thing to name persons , and say , you john , or you thomas , or you richard ; yet , i beseech the lord , to set it home on every soul particularly , both mine and yours , throughout the parish , and let those drunkards , who are so busy to erect a new alehouse in the town , take notice , how god threatneth such doings , and let them desist from their enterprize , lest god mark them out to be the next examples of his wrath. they sufficiently tell the world , what they are that thrust out their minister , and endeavour to set up another alehouse . god has set me as your watchman , ezek. 33.7 , 8 , 9. turn to it , and read it your selves . therefore , that i may free my own soul , and that the blood of impenitent sinners may not be required at my hands , have i written this letter , to be read in your hearing . doth not god say to the wicked drunkard , thou shalt surely die , when he shews him a drunkard struck dead suddenly ? i beseech you therefore all my christian neighbours , take these following considerations home to your hearts , to make you hate drunkenness . first , consider what a brutish , beastly kind of sin drunkenness is ; and there is no beast , that i ever read of , that will drink to be drunk , but the swine , to which a drunkard is most like ; a drunkard makes his belly like a hogshead , to be filled with strong-drink , his throat is the tunnel to let it down ; until , by overbriming his vessel , he force it to run out at his mouth again ; if once the strong liquor begin to work in his guts , it flies up to his brain , and quickly drowns the reason , and robs him of all that should bespeak him a man , and layes a swine in his room , you cannot say , that now he utters , but mutters his words , his tongue greatly labouring to speak , but lying drowned ●nder water , is not able to bring forth any sensible words , you may discover an ape in every posture of him , and he goes , like what ? no comparison can be vile enough , unless you will say , that he goes like himself , or like another drunkard . secondly , consider what heinous aggravations this sin admitts of ; as , first , the mispending that precious time in bad company , and tippling-houses , which he ought to redeem , to work out his salvation ; a saint may be distinguished from a sinner by this character , as well as others . the saint is desirous to redeem time , the sinners great study is , how to drive away time ; the saint spends his time in duty and lawfull busyness , the sinner mispends his time in drinking and unlawful sports ; so that a drunkard wilfully throws away his precious time , as if it were a burthen to him , and seeks for damnation in that time which is allotted him to seek for salvation ; and how inexcusable is that sinner that will not be saved . secondly , consider how one drunkard makes many more partakers of his sin. drunkenness is a sociable vice , and the drunkard calls himself a good fellow . it is very rare , that a man should drink himself drunk alone ; love of the company makes many drunk , who say they do not love drink . and the devil hath found a rare expedient to help forward this sin , by drinking of healths . if any one begin a health , it is now reckoned a great piece of rudeness , not to stay to pledge it ; yes , and not to drink all that is filled unto you ; the healths forsooth , must go round by any means . if the devills in hell be capable of laughing , surely this might make them laugh , to see how eagerly drunkards are working out their own damnation , and by this stratagem , drinking away the health of soul and body both , and pulling many others into hell with them by this diabolical stratagem . thirdly , consider what a wasting sin drunkenness is ? the drunkard consumes , that money on his vice , which should maintain his family , and how many good estates have been wasted by this sin ? how many have drunk ale so long , until they have been forced to sell ale for a livelyhood ? the drunkard poures it in by whole flagons , while his wife and children would be glad of a draught of small beer ●o quench their thirst , so he feeds his sin , by that which should relieve his family . fourthly , consider that this sin of drunkenness exposeth to every sin , i have formerly told you a remarkeable story , which i read in a book called ( tragica ) page 117. in latine , he begins thus : quidam cum pietate sedulo studeret , assiduis diaboli tentationibus infestabatur , suadentis ut ex tribu● peccatis unum quod perpetraret sibi eligeret , &c. which i thus english , a certain man very studious of piety , was dayly infested by the temptations of the devil , to choose which of these three sins he would commit , either to be once drunk , or to defile his neighbours wife once , or to commit murther ( victus tandem consensit in primum peccatum says my author ) at last being overcome , he yielded to be drunk , because he judged that to be the lest sin of the three , but in his drink he defiled his neighbours wife , who coming in , and seeking to revenge the injury , him he murthered , and so was by his drunkenness guilty of all the three sins . fi●thly , consider drunkenness is a heathenish sin ; bacchus was a heathen god ; what doth the drunkard , but sacrifice his estate and time to bacchus ? sixthly , consider how drunkenness incapacitates a man for all duties , and for all cevil actions ; brawling , and quarrelling , and fighting , and often murder , have been the woful fruits of drunkenness . lastly , consider how often the lord doth punish some drunkards with sudden death , to warn others ; how many have fallen into the water , and have been drowned ? some have tumbled down stairs ( as i knew one in london came in drunk , and instead of going up stairs , fell down into his cellar , and never spake more . others falling from their horses , have broke their necks ; and how this poor sinner perished , you all know better perhaps chan i can tell you . let me close up this exhortation with these words , psal. 50.22 . now consider this , ye that forget god , lest i tear you in pieces , and there be none to deliver . i hope you will take this kindly from your poor seque●tred minister , who still lookes on you as his charge , and earne●●●y desireth your salvation ; if the lord be pleased to set home this sad dispensation upon your consciences , it may do you more good than many sermons ; and how happy shall i be if his grace make use of my poor endeavours by this letter to make such an impression upon you , that may stick and abide , and not wear out again . amen , good lord , so let it be , on me and all my flock . amen , amen . from my study , october the 13th . 1680. finis . fatal friendship, or, the drunkards misery being a satyr against hard drinking / by the author of the search after claret. ames, richard, d. 1693. 1693 approx. 32 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 16 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a25262 wing a2978 estc r9803 13284888 ocm 13284888 98783 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a25262) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 98783) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 444:13) fatal friendship, or, the drunkards misery being a satyr against hard drinking / by the author of the search after claret. ames, richard, d. 1693. [4], 26 p. printed for, and sold by randal taylor ..., london : 1693. attributed to richard ames. cf. nuc pre-1956. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng drinking of alcoholic beverages -england -early works to 1800. alcoholism -england -early works to 1800. 2005-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-04 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2005-04 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion fatal friendship ; or , the drunkards misery : being a satyr against hard drinking . — cum vini vis penetravit , consequitur gravitas membrorum , praepediuntur crura vacillanti , tardescit lingua , madet mens , nant oculi , clamor , singultus , jurgia glascant . lucret. lib. 3. by the author of the search after claret . imprimatur , octob. 18th . 1692. edmund bohun . london , printed for , and sold by randal taylor , near stationers-hall , 1693. to all gentlemen , and others ; more particularly , to the sworn friends of the bottle . gentlemen , &c. i am very sensible , that my company will be as acceptable to you , as good advice to a young heir , borrowing money upon his estate before he comes to age ; or a drawer's impertinence , who ( unsent for ) tells you , 't is past three in the morning ; whereas you scorn to wait upon time ; no , let the bald-pated gentleman wait upon you . however , a satyr is a kind of a rugged fellow , and stands not much upon preface , or ceremony ; who makes bold to present you with some of your pictures , drawn as near the life , as a rough pencil could make them ; tho' , you will say , 't was 〈◊〉 what sawcy , to do your pictures , without your consert 〈◊〉 perhaps , 't was a little presumptions ; but what dares 〈◊〉 a satyr do ? 't is a very strange thing , that a man should do that over-night , which he must ask pardon of his constitution for next morning . how penitent , and crop-sick , have i seen a spark , after a debauch ? his body feaverish , his head out of order ; then small-beer , and coffee , are his beloved liquors , and he abhors wine for some time , equal with a mussel-man ; till nature throws it off , and then the bottle must be ply'd pretty warmly , to redeem the time lost in sobriety . but , as for those hard-drinkers , whose bodies and consciences are equally case-hardned , whom no wine can ever intoxicate , and who boast of their knocking down ( as 't is call'd ) so many of an evening ; taking a pride to murder their dearest friends , under the disguise of a civil entertainment ( for a stab in the mouth is oftentimes more dangerous , than a thrust through the body : ) as for these men , my satyr has nothing to say to them , since neither st. paul , nor aristotle , can ever convince them , that drinking to excess is a sin , or , to use their own modish phrase , a vice : no , my satyr would only instruct the young practitioners in drinking , who are not gone so far , as to dare to venture upon the second or third bottle ; i wish , they may stop , before the feaver , gout , or consumption , convinces them of their folly , and their experience be not bought so dear , that they will never make their money of it again ; for , till i can find , what good either to soul , body , reputation or estate , hard drinking ever did to any man , the satyr will stand good in law ; and when he is convinced to the contrary , he will readily cry , peccavi . an errata . page 2. line ult . for masters , read master , p. 9. l. 9. f. just , r. curst . ibid , l. 16. f. so well , r. to sell , p. 10. l. 8. f. tells , r. tell , p. 13. l. 10. f. rut , r. but , ibid , l. 14. f. paint , r. pain p. 14. l. 12. f. year , r. years , p. 15. l. 7. f. jilt , r. jill . p. 16. l. 2. f. of his , r. which this , p 25. l. 17. f. he , r. they . with several other faults , which the reader is desired to correct . the fatal friendship , &c. i. enough , enough ; urge me no more my friend , ( for so you are , or so at least pretend ; ) i 've drank enough to quench my thirst ; nay , more , i 've took a glass , or two , on pleasures score ; and sure , you cannot think it fit , i drink beyond my quantum sufficit ? why will you tempt me thus ? — and with a glass , fit by the race of gyants , to be quaft : think you a pint can be a friendly draught ? for double aqua fortis has as many charms as in that bumper are ; therefore , my dearest friend , forbear , and show the fatal glass no more ; which not to drink , i to my self have swore . ii. but yet i would not have you think , 't is humour makes me thus forbear to drink ; or that some sullen maggot of the brain , makes me large brimmers thus refrain . i ever lov'd my friend , and scorn to be the spoiler of good company ; yet i was ne're so complaisant , to pour down drink to that degree , till i could neither speak , nor stand , nor go , because my company were so ; i hope , that piece of breeding i shall ever want . some irksom things one would for friendship do , yet a man's health must be regarded too . iii. i see your friends are all uneasie grown ; and you your self must wish me gone , since now i can no longer be , what by mistake is call'd good company : pardon my rudeness , and believe , 't is with regret i take my leave ; for i am very proud to be the masters of my health and liberty ; yet , i confess , i shall one pleasure lose , which is , the benefit of your discourse ; instead of which , i 'll walk the groves and fields , and crop the sweets , the lovely garden yields ; since various men do various pleasures choose , if you 'll not envy mine , i ne're will envy yours . iv. thus at a pleasant seat of country-knight , adorn'd with every thing that can delight , one day a mighty company were met , i , 'mongst the rest , to share a noble treat . our dinner done , appears another scene , bottles , like locusts , to the room swarm in , of several sorts of wine ; nor must they need , that shoeing-horn , to drink the indian weed : bottles and pipes the challenge give , which every one does there receive ; healths are begun , of which 'bout three or four i drank , and then resolv'd to drink no more ; but took my leave , since i could plainly find , hard-drinking was by all design'd ; i know , that — squeamish fool , and sober sot , were names , which in my absence were my lot ; but that no trouble was to me , since now in air my thoughts were free : in a thick grove of beech i walkt alone , and thinking where i lately was , and what was certain to be done , when the concluding punch-bowl was in play ; reflecting ( as i , 'mongst the trees , did pass ) upon the vice of drinking , there was brought a thousand notions to my lab'ring thought , which , cloath'd in words , thus to my self did say . v. how in the name of wonder hapned first that vice , above all other vices curst , call'd , drunkenness , such vast esteem to find , amongst the race of human kind . the patriarchs , who liv'd before the flood , no drink , but that of water understood ; till noah planted an unlucky vine , and was the first example of the force of wine ; but too too soon the vice familiar grew , and when the cups went briskly round , the little world , call'd man , again was drown'd , they laught at all the sober few , who would refuse to wash their souls with wine , or not with them in lewd excesses joyn ; this truth , old pious lot too plainly knew , when from the drunken sodomitish crew , with 's wife and daughters he withdrew , but in a cave the girls contriv'd a plot , by pushing on the well-fill'd bowl , to warm their father's aged soul : and when the now no longer pious lot , his dose had plentifully got , his wife of salt , and sodom's flames , were both forgot : the heat of wine , the heat of lust inspires , and the old man now burns with youthful fires ; incest he thinks no crime , and now no more rememb'ring what his neighbours suff'red for ; forgetting what is lawful , good and just , adds sin to sin , and his two daughters must by turns inflame , by turns allay his lust. vi. parent of vices , drinking , sure thou art , under thy wing they all ptotection find ; for he that is to drunkenness inclin'd , will in no sin refuse to bear a part , must there a house be fir'd , or tender maid be to the arms of ravishers betray'd ; a person to be robb'd , nay , murdered too , all this a drunkard is prepared to do ; his reason , in a sea of liquor , drown'd , to guide his thoughts , no pilot can be found , but to and fro his passions fluctuate , ready for villany at any rate : but oft a sad repentance is his lot , and the lewd frolicks of a drunken sot , end with a halter , and a psalm , if drunk you kill , you must be hang'd when calm ; but newgate's annals , tyburn's chronicle , of this sad truth can various stories tell . vii . oft to a tavern have i known go in , a knot of friends to drink a glass of wine , in love and unity they all sit down , now doubly welcome to each other grown ; to each man's health the glass goes briskly round , and nought but mirth and jollity is found ; but when one bottle ushers in another , and this half flask brings in his younger brother : a scene quite different appears , for now with wine inflam'd each petty jar , will 'mongst these friends create a civil war ; wine spilt by accident , an health forgot , or a glass fill'd too full upon the spot , can set 'em altogether by the ears ; rascal , and rogue , are words they use by turns , and each with wine and fury doubly burns ; which , if too high wound up , perhaps proceeds , to throwing bottles at each others heads ; then swords from scabbards are lugg'd out . and now begins the dismal rout. all friendship is forgot , and each one wou'd be glad to bathe his sword in t'other's blood. thus in the fury of this brutal wrath , murder ensues on one , or both ; and they , who were such friends before , by wines most powerful operation , cancel the friendship which they bore ; and he who does in such a quarrel fall , with highest justice we may call , a sacrifice to vvine , and sudden passion . viii . late from the tavern , reeling drunk , a gentleman ( well bred , and nobly born , who sober , would such actions scorn ) perhaps shall seize upon a stroling punk ; she likes her prize , for well those vermin know , what with a drunken man to do : but while , as by her side he walks , and of his love in broken english talks , a man more drunk he meets , who has resolv'd to scour the streets ; he asks no leave , but boldly on does fall , and quarrels with him both for punk and wall : this he a great affront does think , ( for men are valiant in their drink ) both draw , and aukard pushes make ; and though they both may know the art , they thrust not now in teirce or cart ; but blindly fighting in the dark , by a chance pass falls one , or t'other spark , unless the watch , or some by-standers may be near , to part the sudden fray. thus quarrels too too oft arise , and precious life is laid at stake , for the good favours of a taudry crack , and doubly curst is he that wins the prize . ix . but without any hindrance , now suppose , he with his phillis to some tavern goes ; for taverns now , 't is known , are doubly just , first , they inflame , and then they wink at lust ; here from warm touches , and such wanton toys , which she permits as fine decoys , to draw him on , to taste her further joys , he ventures , and by money thrown in lap , gives solid earnest for a swinging clap. for now the jilts , so well their flesh are known , as butchers do their meat by pound or stone : but though the whore with open hand receives , what he for fatal pleasures gives , not satisfied , she to his pocket dives . from whence , by slight of hand , with fingers steady , by nimble art , she picks out all his ready ; and if tobacco-box , or watch be nigh , they shall not fail to keep it company : then she troops of , and leaves him with the curse of a burnt tail , and quite exhausted purse ; homeward 't is time , that now he reels , insensible as yet , but who can tell 's the pangs his serious thoughts next morning feels , when he considers what th' effects may be of his last nights vain , sinful jolity . x. blessed effects of drinking to excess ; but this does antient proverb cross , that drunken men ne're come to harm or loss ; no , heaven o're them has a peculiar care , not minding how the sober fare ; from horse they never fall , nor by mistake , ride into ponds , a liquid exit make ; all stairs to them , like terra firma , seem , from whence , by falling , none e're broke a limb ; they never meet with quarrel , blow , nor wound , nor dead i' th' street , o'recome with liquor found . no , no , — this truth they joyntly all confess , or day , or night , when they from drinking come , tho' they want legs and eyes , they get securely home . xi . like wretched losing gamesters thus , rather than they the game will loose , heav'n shall be call'd , the sinking cause t'efpouse : but can we be so impious , as to think , that providence o're men in drink , with greater care looks down , than on those who are always sober known . this were to set up vice , and put fair vertue down . " but you will tell us , that the sober may " be kill'd , or wounded in a fray , " may break their necks , be drown'd , or lye " wrackt with the gout , or in a feaver dye ; " how then with justice can you e're pretend , that heav'n is theirs , more than the drunkards friend . 't is true , these mischiefs on the good may fall , but yet to them they are no ills at all ; the forest of them providence ne're sent in anger , as a punishment : th' appearance , ev'n of ill they all eschew , not seek the causes as the drunkards do : no wonder then , so oft they dangers meet , when they will court 'em in the road or street ; leaving their arguments , as vain and false , since now another way my fancy calls : of melancholory scenes now take a view , and tell me then if drink can mischief do . xii . see here a moving tun of drink , whos 's paunch in state before him walks , while his two gouty leggs come limping after , a sight , will move our pitty , and our laughter , with pace uncertain , how he stalks ; salt's rheums in 's eyes , with face as scarlet red , tho' parcht his lips , as ne're with moisture fed . this sea of liquor yet will never shrink , but freely takes his brimmers off , and with the latest stoutly quaff : nay , for his drinking he has this pretence , sobriety would be the death , 't is claret : that preserves his breath ; so drink he must , ev'n in his own defence : rut whether do these courses tend , nature at last beneath the load must bend ; excessive heats put out her kinder fires , and so wrapt up in drink , the wretch expires . xiii . another with the gout such paint does feel , as almost equals those upon the wheel ; oyls , oyntments , plaisters still are us'd in vain , nor can the velvet cusheon ease the pain ; either like strickt carthusian now he lives , and meanest foods , and smallest drink receives ; ( a dismal penance for a past life , spent in frolicks , and high drinking , merriment ) or else he huggs the cause of all his pains , and wine alone his palate entertains ; and when in toe the wracking twitch comes on , to ease the pain , he throws a brimmer down : all doctors slops he hates , and cannot think there can be any opiate like drink ; and that good claret , or some other wine , sooner and better does to rest incline , then laudanum , or other anodyne : thus , thus , he lives — and tedious year spins out , ( for death is seldom hastned by the gout ; ) and frequent in his mouth this maxims known , drink wine , and have the gout ; and when that 's done , your gout will pain you , tho'you should drink none . xiv . now a consumptive walking ghost appears , stooping to earth before th' appointed years ; who , when of phlegm , he would his stomach ease , does of himself each time spit up a piece : a hectick feaver does his strength consume , and he 's a perfect skeleton become ; so pale and wan , that every one almost would swear he did not seem , but was a ghost . yet to the tavern , for a sober jilt , or a half pint at most , he ventures still ; so willing is the wretch to live , altho' he cannot one of life's contentments know : he sees the men of health the bottles troul , and drink large bumpers from the deep mouth'd bowl ; while he , with little knipperkin , by 's side , observes the ebbs and flows of th' bottles tide , with such delight , as old men when they view , what am'rous thyrsis and dorinda do , when on a rosie bank , at dawn of day , they sit and kiss , and play the time away : yet the pin'd creature , drinking now forbid , ( not able to perform what once he did ) yet pleads , that little wine he sipt up now , to 's wasted lungs , does as a cordial go ; and who would that assistance disallow ? xv. these are some few of that most mighty train , of his hard drinking , brings on wretched man ; yet in the case it is but plain and clear , the body is the smallest sufferer : too often the estate the damage feels , and a house totters while its master reels ; hang lousie mannours , what are musty farms , in ballance put with wines diviner charms : thus timon-like , our spark treats on , and drinks , but how 's estate declines , he never thinks , till duns on ev'ry side attack him so , he must for safety to alsatia go ; where , while his money lasts he shall not want , companions who will with him drink and rant ; but that once gon , his person they refuse , as rats by instinkt leave a falling house ; pensive he walks , and knows not what to do , since poverty has made the world his foe ; and he who once esteem'd no wines too dear , now wets his throat with penitent small beer ; though 't is a change , few men can ere endure , to be a stoick from an epicure ; no character does such a man deserve , ( by his excesses almost doom'd to starve ) but this , — a good estate to 's lot did fall , which folilshly he pist against the wall. xvi . but , what does most of all our wonder raise , and with astonishment our reason strike , is , that this vice they will as vertue praise , and that no friendship ever can be like to that , which o're a bottle can be made : so strong a cement's wine , it will engage , men shall continue friends an age. tho the acquaintance first they had , at a lewd drinking match , where each one vow'd , that he would spend his dearest blood ; go for his friend , through water , fire , all the dangers can on mankind fall ; tho of all this a word 's not understood , yet they will hug and flabber one another ; the old they father call , the young their brother . their friendship , thus by wine begun , must by the same be carried on ; and if by accident , one meets his brother red-nose in the streets ; they , with dry lips , no more can part , than can a parent from his son in cart , refrain from tears . — old customs they 'll not break , each in a glass must dip his beak ; with modest pints , they first begin , and that the tall-boy ushers in ; then , in large brimmers , all their cares they drown , and useless reason tumbles down : yet they are friends , most mighty friends , indeed , and for each other , both their purses bleed ; so long , till one does a consumption find , and when that 's gone , — where will you find the friend ? xvii . but , which is worst of all , our gentry now , make drinking — friendship , and their glory , too ; and him the bravest man they reckon , who can his large bumpers stifly quaff , and carry half a score of bottles off ; and him unfit for conversation think , who boggles with the glass , and will not drink : if i , quite weary of the nauseous town , to see an honest country friend , go down ; i am received with all the kind address , that un-disguised friendship can express ; with wonder , i behold his plenteous board , with what ev'n luxury could wish-for stor'd ; and when , with choicest foods , i have giv'n nature the refreshment she did crave ; taking my glass , in order , as it came , gently to stir the vital flame , i thought , that then some respite was allow'd , to sit a while , and talk , or chew the cudd. but , ah ! no sooner was the voider gone , but bottles came in clusters on . now i 've a doubtful task to chuse , either to drink , or else refuse : if i through easiness comply , ( and men sometimes want power for to deny ) i must resolve with reason to shake hands , and represent the brute , in shape of man , while pretious health , in doubtful posture , stands ; for who can tell , how much i may oppress the vital heat , by such a grand excess ; and the firm strength , which now i 'm sure is mine ; this ( friendly kind ) debauch may undermine , and shorten life t'an inch , which nature made a span ? if i refuse , and no perswasions can tempt me to stay , and drink like them , me , as an ill bred fool , they then condemn ; but heav'n be praised , these scandals wound not deep ; let them rail on , while life's chief blessing , health i keep . xviii . and this , d' ye friendship call , as well you may , call an italian friend , who can convey a secret poyson to your heart , prepar'd with so much curious art , which shall most certainly , or soon , or late , close up your eyes , and seal your fate : but our bold sons of bacchus , here , do in their practice openly appear ; who , on you , when they force the glass , or cup , pale poyson , in disguise of wine you sup ; yet think not poyson from the grape they press ; no , wine 's a cordial , till by lewd excess , it does its kind refreshing nature lose , and death lies lurking in the noble juyce : and can that man be then my friend , who , because , mithridates-like , he poysons can digest ( for wine 's no less , when swallow'd to a vast excess ) will unto me the fatal draught commend . nay , force it too : — if this be friendship then , its sail let sence and breeding strike to savages , and indians , who european vices never knew , for , if not christians , yet 't is own'd they 're men. xix . alas ! what pleasure can there be in an half fluster'd company : one while , like dover-court , 't appears , all men have tongues , but none have ears ; another time they will be sitting , as mute , as quaker's silent meeting ; till one more , witty than the rest , tells 'em a sad insipid jest ; and then they laugh at such a rate , yet scarcely one can tell for what : here one , with secret , hard in labour , delivers it in ear of neighbour ; which , from his breast , had never broke , had not wine slily pickt the lock . another tells , what punks of late , and sort of oaths are out of date ; and what new faces daily meet , at famous house of chacolett : one , in the story of 's mishaps , forgets not to relate his claps ; at which , his neighbour laughs , and tells him , such ills far oftner have befel him , one to the chimney-corner creeps , and there , in quiet , fairly sleeps ; another does , by 's spewing , tell us , something in 's stomach's grown rebellious : one sings ; at which another bawls , and vows he only catterwawls : thus , in a scene of noise and strife , they waste the pretious hours of life ; till death shall let the curtain drop , and then their game of folly's up . xx. though heaven ordain'd , that man should be a creature , sitted for society ; yet he must be apollo , that can find what benefit to body , or to mind , can e're accrue from a wild friendship , where no other entertainments found , but still to see the bottle keeps its round ; all sober-thinking they abhor , and learned talking is kickt out of doors : but if of dogs and horses — xxi . — and here the chain of thought in meditation , to an end was brought : occasion'd by a mighty noise , which came . from the same house , from whence i lately went , the penance of hard-drinking to prevent ; thither i hastned , and was struck to see their pleasant scence of mirth and jollity , now turned to blood , and wounds , and tragedy . the foolish fray was hardly over , when in the room i did my self discover ; for a full bottle brusht against my arm , then flew through th' window , without further harm ; ( yet , in that number , there were only two , who me again distinctly knew ; ) the noble knight , strove by all means he cou'd , to hinder spilling christian blood ; for wine , and passion , put 'em in a flame , not quickly to be quencht , — but yet , at last , each quietly sat down , as no such thing had past . xxii . then of the sob'rest in the room , ( tho' ev'ry man was purely overcome , ) i askt th' occasion , how this quarrel rose ? who told me , that a spark would needs impose a health on 's friend , which he point blank refus'd ; at which , in 's face , a glass of wine he threw ; and after that , his tilter drew , and swore , that he that would not pledge that health , were sons of whores , and lov'd a common-wealth : at which , the company divided stood , and swords were ready drawn for blood ; but after some few angry passes made , one prickt i' th arm , and to then cut on the head. slight wounds : — but , after much perswasions us'd , as fresh they to their drinking fall , as if they had not drank at all ; to see the up-shot on 't , i would not stay , but thus reflected in my homeward way ; that though to chuse our fortunes , heav'n will not allow ; yet were this double choice my lot , i 'd rather be an hermit , than a sot. finis the blemish of government, the shame of religion, the disgrace of mankind, or, a charge drawn up against drunkards and presented to his highness the lord protector, in the name of all the sober party in the three nations, humbly craving that they may be kept alone by themselves from infecting others ... / by r. younge of roxwell in essex. younge, richard. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a67741 of text r41270 in the english short title catalog (wing y140). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 69 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a67741 wing y140 estc r41270 31354736 ocm 31354736 110246 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a67741) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 110246) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1753:27) the blemish of government, the shame of religion, the disgrace of mankind, or, a charge drawn up against drunkards and presented to his highness the lord protector, in the name of all the sober party in the three nations, humbly craving that they may be kept alone by themselves from infecting others ... / by r. younge of roxwell in essex. younge, richard. 16 p. printed by a.m. and are to be sold by henry crips ... and james crump ..., [london] : 1658. caption title. imprint from colophon. running title: the disgrace of mankind. "offer of help to drowning-men" -p. 11-16. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. eng drinking of alcoholic beverages. alcoholism -religious aspects. alcoholics. a67741 r41270 (wing y140). civilwar no the blemish of government, the shame of religion, the disgrace of mankind, or, a charge drawn up against drunkards and presented to his high younge, richard 1658 11859 84 0 0 0 0 0 71 d the rate of 71 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2004-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-12 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-01 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2005-01 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the blemish of government , the shame of religion , the disgrace of mankind ; or , a charge drawn up against drunkards , and presented to his highness the lord protector , in the name of all the sober party in the three nations . humbly craving , that they may be kept alone by themselves from infecting others ; compelled to work and earn what they consume : and that none may be suffered to sell drink , who shall either swear , or be drunk themselves , or suffer others within their wals. by r. younge of roxwell in essex . 1. branch of the charge . that as the basilisk is chief of serpents : so of sinners the drunkard is chief . that drunkenness is of sins the queen : as the gout is of diseases : even the root of all evil , the rot of all good . a sin which turns a man wholly into sin . that all sins , all beast-like , all serpentine qualities meet in a drunkard , as rivers in the sea : and that it were far better be a toad , or a serpent , than a drunkard . that the drunkard is like ahab , who sold himself to work wickedness . that he wholly dedicates , resigns , surrenders , and gives himself up to serve sin and satan . that his only imploiment is to drink , drab , quarrel , swear , curse , scoff , slander and seduce : as if to sin were his trade , and he could do nothing else ; like the devil , who was a sinner from the beginning , a sinner to the end . that these sons of belial , are all for the belly : for to drink god out of their hearts , health out of their bodies , wit out of their heads , strength out of their joynts , all the money out of their purses , all the drink out of the brewers barrels , wife and children out of doors , the house out at windows , the land out of quiet , plenty out of the nation , is all their business . in which their swinish swilling , they resemble so many frogs in a puddle , or water-snakes in a pond : for their whole exercise , yea , religion , is to drink ; they even drown themselves on the dry land . that they drink more spirits in one night , then their flesh and brains be worth . that more is thrown out of one swines nose , and mouth , and guts , than would maintain five sufficient families . 2. br. that it is not to be imagined , what all the drunkards in one shire , or county do devour , and worse than throw away in one year : when it hath been known ( if we may give credit to authours , and the oaths of others ) that two and thirty in one cluster have made themselves drunk ; that six and thirty have dranke themselves dead in the place , with carowsing of healths ; that at one supper , one and fourty have killed themselves , with striving for the conquest : that two have drank each of them a peck at a draught : that four men have drank four gallons of wine at a sitting : that one man hath drank two gallons of wine ; and two more , three gallons of wine a piece at a time : that one drunkard in a few hours , drank four gallons of wine : that four ancient men drank as many cups of wine at one sitting , as they had lived years , which was in all , three hundred cups of wine amongst four men : and lastly , that three women came into a tavern in fleetstreet ( when i was a boy , take it upon claptons oath and credit , who drew the wine ) and drank fourty nine quarts of sack ; two of them sixteen a piece , and the third to get the victory , seventeen quarts of sack . which being so , what may the many millions of these ding-thrifty dearth-makers consume in a year in all the three nations ? nor need it seem incredible , that common drunkards should drink thus : for they can disgorge themselves at pleasure , by only putting their finger to their throat . and they will vomit , as if they were so many live whales spuing up the ocean ; which done , they can drink afresh . or if not so , yet custom hath made it pass thorow them , as thorow a tunnel , or strainer ; whereby it comes out again as sheer wine as it went in , as hath been observed . nor hath the richest sherry or old canary any more operation with them , then a cup of six hath with me . and no marvell for if physick be taken too oft , it wil not work like physick : but nature entertains it as a friend , not as a physitian : yea poison by a familiar use becomes natural food . as aristotle ( in an example of a maid , who used to pick spiders off the wals and eat them ) makes plain . 3. br. that as drunkards have lost the prerogative of their creation , and are changed ( with nebuchadnezzar , dan. 4. 16. ) from men into beasts , so they turn the sanctuary of life into the shambles of death : yea thousands ( when they have made up the measure of their wickedness ) are taken away in god's just wrath in their drink ; ( as it were with the weapon in their bellies ) it faring with them as it did with that pope , whom the devil is said to have slain in the very instant of his adultery , and carry him quick to hell ; being suddenly struck with death , as if the execution were no lesse intended to the soul , than to the body . that by the law of god in both testaments ; he that will not labour , should not eat , gen. 3. 19. prov. 20. 4. 2 thes. 3. 10. because he robs the common-wealth of that which is altogether as profitable as land , or treasure . but drunkards are not only lazy get-nothings , but they are also riotous spend-als ; and yet these drunken drones , these gut-mongers , these quagmirists , like vagrants and vermine , do nothing all their life-long that may tend to any good , as is storied of margites , and yet devour more of the fat of the land , than would plentifully maintain those millions of poor in the nation , that are ready to famish . a thing not fit to be suffered in any christian common-wealth , yea far fitter they were stoned to death , as by the law of god they ought , deut. 21. 20 , 21. since this might bring them to repentance ; whereas now they spend their dayes in mirth : and suddenly they go down into hell , job 21. 13. drunkards being those swine , whom the legion carries headlong into the sea , or pit of perdition . 4. br. that every hour seems a day , and every day a month to a drunkard , that is not spent in a tap-house ; yea , they seem to have nailed their ears to the door of some tavern or tap-house , and to have agreed with satan , master , it is good being here ! that where ever the drunkards house is , his dwelling is at the ale-house , except all his mony be spent , and then if his wife will fetch him home with a lanth●rn , and his men with a barrow , he comes with as 〈◊〉 sense as 〈◊〉 image had . that the pot is no sooner from their lips , but they are melancholy , and their hearts as heavy , as if a milstone lay upon it . or rather they are vexed like saul with an evil spirit , which nothing will drive away but drink and tobacco . they so wound their consciences with all kind of prodigious wickedness , and so exceedingly provoke god , that they are rackt in conscience , and tortured with the very flashes of hell-fire . that they drink to the end only , that they may forget god , his threats and judgments ; that they may drown conscience , and put of all thoughts of death , and hell ; and to hearten and harden themselves against all the messages of god , and threats of the law : which is no other in mitigating the pangs of conscience , than as a saddle of gold to a galled horse , or a draught of poison to quench a mans thirst . that if they might have their wils , none should refuse to be drunk unpunished , or be drunk unrewarded at the common charge . as how will they boast what they drank , and how many they conquer'd at such a meeting , making it their only glory ? that the utmost of a drunkards honesty is good-fellowship ; that temperance and sobriety with them , is nothing but humour and singularity ; and that they drink not for strength or need , but for lust and pride ; to shew how full of satan they are , and how near to swine . that though these swinish swill-bouls make their gullet their god , and sacrifice more to their god-belly , than those babylonians did to their god bell , bell & drag . ver. 3. yet they will say , yea swear , that they drink not for love of drink , though they love it above health , wealth , credit , child , wife , life , heaven , salvation , all . they no more care for wine , than esau did for his pottage for which he sold his birth-right , isa. 56 12. 5. br. that drunkards are the devils captives , at his command , and ready to do his will ; and that he rules over , and works in them his pleasure , 2 tim. 2. 26. eph. 2. 2. that he enters into them , and puts it into their hearts , what he will have them to do , joh. 13. 2. act. 5. 3. 1 chro. 21. 1. opens their mouths , speaks in , and by them , gen. 3. 1 , to 6. stretcheth out their hands , and they act as he will have them , act. 12. 1 , 2. rev. 2. 10. he being their father , gen. 3. 15. joh. 8. 44. their king , joh. 12. 31. & 14. 30. and their god , 2 cor. 4. 4. eph. 2. 2. and which is worst of all , that drunkenness not only duls and dams up the head and spirits with mud , but it beastiates the heart , & ( being worse than the sting of an asp ) poisoneth the very soul and reason of a man , whereby the faculties and organs of repentance and resolution are so corrupted and captivated , that it makes men utterly uncapable of returning , unlesse god should work a greater miracle upon them , then was the creating of the whole world . whence austin compares it to the very pit of hell , out of which ( when a man is once fallen into ) there is no hope of redemption . that drunkenness is like some desp●rate plague , which knows no cure . as what sayes basil , shall we speak to drunkards ? we had as good speak to liveless-stones , or sensless-plants , or witless beasts , as to them ; for they no more believe the threats of gods word , than if some impostor had spoken them . they will fear nothing , till they be in hell-fire ; resembling the sodomites , who would take no warning , though they were all struck blind ; but persisted in their course , untill they felt fire and brimstone about their ears , gen. 19. 11. that there is no washing these blackmoors white , no charming of these deaf adders ; blind men never blush ; fools are never troubled in conscience ; neither are beasts ever ashamed of their deeds . that a man shall never hear of an habituated , infatuated , incorrigible , cauterized drunkard , that is reclaimed with age . 6. br. that as at first , and before custom in sin hath hardened these drunkards , they suffer themselves to be transformed from men into swine ; as elpenor was transformed by circes into a hog ; so by degrees they are of swine transformed again into devils , as cadmus and his wife were into serpents , as palpably appears by their tempting to sin , and drawing to perdition . that these agents for the devil , drunkards , practise nothing but the art of debauching men ; that to turn others into beasts , they will make themselves devils , wherin they have a notable dexterity , as it is admirable how they will wind men in , and draw men on , by drinking first a health to such a man , then to such a woman my mistress , then to every ones mistress ; then to some lord or lady ; their master , their magistrate , their captain , commaader , &c. and never cease , until their brains , their wits , their tongues , their eyes , their feet , their senses , and all their members sail them : that they will drink until they vomit up their shame again , like a filthy dog , or lie wallowing in their beastliness , like a bruitish swine . that they think nothing too much either to do or spend , that they may make a sober man a drunkard , or to drink another drunkard under the table ; which is to brag how far they are become the devils children : that in case they can make a sober and religious man exceed his bounds , they will sing and rejoyce , as in the division of a spoil ; and boast that they have drenched sobriety ▪ and blinded the light ; and ever after be a snuffing of this taper , psal. 13. 4. but what a barbarous , graceless , and unchristian-like practice is this , to make it their glory , pastime , and delight , to see god dishonoured , his spirit grieved , his name blasphemed , his creatures abused , themselves and their friends souls damned . doubtless such men have climbed the highest step of the ladder of wickedness ; as thinking their own sins will not press them deep enough into hell , except they load themselves with other mens ; which is devil-like indeed ! whose aim it hath ever been , seeing he must of necessity be wretched , not to be wretched alone . that as they make these healths serve as a pulley , or shoing-horn to draw men on to drink more , then else they would or should do : so a health being once begun , they will be sure that every one present shall pledge the same , in the same manner and measure , be they thirsty or not thirsty , willing , or not willing , able , or unable : be it against their stomacks , healths , natures , judgments , hearts and consciences , which do utterly abhor , and secretly condemn ▪ the same . that in case a man will not for company grievously sin against god , wrong his own body , destroy his soul , and wilfully leap into hell fire with them ; they will hate him worse than the hangman ; and will sooner adventure their bloud in the field , upon refusing , or crossing their healths , than in the cause and quarrel of their country . 7. br. how they are so pernicious , that to damn their own souls , is the least part of their mischief ; and that they draw vengeance upon thousands , by seducing s●●e , and giving ill example to others . that one drunkard makes a multitude ; being like the bramble , judg. 9. 15. which first set it self on fire , and then fired all the wood . or like a malicious man sick of the plague , that runs into the throng to disperse his infection ; whose mischief out-weighs all penalty . and this shews , that they not only partake of the devils nature , but that they are very devils in the likeness of men : and that the very wickedness of one that feareth god , is far better than the good intreaty of a drunkard . that with sweet words they will tole men on to destruction , as we tole beasts with fodder to the slaughter-house ; and that to take away all suspition , they will so mollifie the stiffness of a mans prejudice , so temper and fit him to their own mould ; that once to suspect them , requires the spirit of discerning . and that withall , they so confirm the profes●ion of their love with oaths , protestations and promises , that you would think , jonathans love to david nothing to it . that these pernicious seducers , devils in the shape of men , have learned to handle a man so sweetly , that one would think it a pleasure to be seduced . but little do they think , how they advance their own damnations , when the blood of so many souls , as they have drawn away , will be required at their hands ! for know this thou tempter , that thou dost not more increase other mens wickedness on earth , ( whether by perswasion , or provocation , or example ) than their wickedness shall increase thy damnation in hell , luk. 16. 27 , 28. non fratres dilexit , sed seipsum respexit . and this let me say to the horror of their consciences , that make merchandize of souls ; that it is a question when such an one comes to hell , whether judas himself would change torments with him . 8. br. that the drunkard is so pleasing a murtherer , that he tickles a man to death , and makes him ( like solomons fool ) die laughing . whence it is , that many who hate their other enemies ( yea , and their friends too ) imbrace this enemy , because he kisseth when he betrayeth . and indeed what fence ? for a pistol charged with the bullet of friendship . hence it is also , that thousands have confest at the gallows , i had never come to this , but for such , and such a drunkard . for commonly the drunkards progress is , from luxury to beggery , from beggery to thievery , from the tavern to tyborne , from the ale-house to the gallows . briefly , that these bauds and panders of vice breathe nothing but infection , and study nothing but their own , and other mens destruction . that the drunkard is like julian , who never did a man a good turn , but it was to damn his soul . that his proffers are like the fowlers shrape , when he casts meat to birds , which is not out of pity to relieve , but out of treachery to insnare them . or like traps we set for vermine , seeming charitable , when they intend to kill , jer. 5. 26. and thou maist answer these cursed tempters , who delight in the murther of souls , as the woman of endor did saul , 1 sam. 28. wherefore seekst thou to take me in a snare , to cause me to die , vers. 9. that he is another absolom , who made a feast for amnon , whom he meant to kill . and there is no subtilty like that which deceives a man , and hath thanks for the labour . for as our saviour saith , blessed is the man that is not offended at their scoffs , mat. 11. 6. so blessed is the man that is not taken with their wiles . for herein alone consists the difference , he whom the lord loves , shall be delivered from their meretricious allurements , eccl. 7. 26. and he whom the lord abhors , shall fall into their snares , pro. 22. 14. 9. br. that taverns and tap-houses are the drinking schools , where they learn this their skill , and are trained up in this trade of tempting . for satan does not work them to this heighth of impiety all at once , but by degrees : when custom of sin hath deaded all remorse for sin ; as it is admirable how the soul that takes delight in leudness , is gained upon by custom . they grow up in sin , as worldlings grow in wealth and honour , they wax worse and worse , sayes the apostle , 2 tim. 3. 13. they go first over-shoo's , then over-boots , then over-shoulders ; and at length over-head and ears in sin , as some do in debt . now these tap-houses are their meeting-places ; where they hear the devils lectures read ; the shops and markets , where satan drives his trade ; the schools , where they take their degrees ; these are the guild-hals where all sorts of sinners gather together , as the humors do into the stomack before an ague-fit , and where is projected all the wickedness that breaks forth in the nation , as our reverend judges do find in their several circuits . that these taverns and ale-houses ( or rather hell-houses ) are the fountains and well-heads from whence spring all our miseries and mischiefs : these are the nurseries of all riot , excess and idleness , making our land another sodom , and furnishing yearly our jails and gallowses . here they sit all day in troops , doing that in earnest , which we have seen boyes do in sport ; stand on their heads , and shake their heels against heaven ; where , even to hear how the name of the lord jesus is pierced , and gods name blasphemed , would make a dumb man speak , a dead man almost to quake . 10. br. that it were endless to repeat their vain-babling , scurrilous jesting , wicked talking , impious swearing and cursing : that when the drink hath once bit them , and set their tongues at liberty , their hearts come up as easily as some of their drink ; yea , their limitless tongues do then clatter like so many windows loose in the wind , and you may assoon perswade a stone to speak , as them to be silent ; it faring with their clappers , as with a sick mans pulse , which alwaies beats , but ever out of order . that one drunkard hath tongue enough for twenty men ; for let but three of them be in a room , they will make a noise , as if all the thirty bels in antwerp steeple were rung at once : or do but pass by the door , you would think your self in the land of parrats . that it is the property of a druukard to disgorge his bosom with his stomack , to empty his mind with his maw : his tongue resembles bacchus his liber pater , and goes like the sayl of a wind-mill : for as a grea●gale of wind whirleth the sayls about , so abundance of drink whirleth his tongue about , and keeps it in continual motion . now he rayls , now he scoffs , now he lies , now he slanders , now he seduces , talks baudy , swears , bans , foams , and cannot be quiet , till his tongue be wormed . so that from the beginning to the end , he belcheth forth nothing , but what is as far from truth , piety , reason , modesty ▪ as that the moon came down from heaven to visit mahomet : as oh ! the beastliness which burns in their unchaste and impure minds , that smokes out at their polluted mouths ! a man would think , that even the devil himself should blush , to hear his child so talk . how doth his mouth run over with falshoods against both magistrates , ministers and christians : what speaks he less than whoredoms , adulteries , incests at every word ? yea , hear two or three of them talk , you would change the lycaonians language , and say , devils are come up in the likeness of men . 11 ▪ br. that at these places men learn to contemn authority , as boyes grown tall and stubborn , contemn the rod : here it is that they utter swelling and proud words against such as are in dignity , as st peter and st jude have it . they set their mouths against heaven , and their tongues walk through the earth , psal. 73. 9. so that many a good minister and christian may say with holy david , i became a song of the drunkards , psal. 69. 12. and in case any of them have wit , here they will shew it in scoffing at religion , and flouting at holiness . from whence it is , that we have so many atheists , and so few christians amongst us ( notwithstanding our so much means of grace ) and that the magistracy and ministry are so wofully contemned by all sorts of people . that these tippling tap-houses are the common quagmires of all filthiness , where too many drawing their patrimonies through their throats , exhaust and lavish out their substance , and lay plots and devices how to get more . for hence they fall either to open courses of violence , or secret mischief , till at last the jail prepares them for the gibbet ; for lightly they sing through a red lattise , before they cry through a grate . 12. br. i speak not of all , i know the calling to be good , and that there are good of that calling , ( and these will thank me , because what i have said , makes for their honour and profit too ) but sure i am , too many of these drinking-houses are the very dens and shops , yea the thrones of satan , very sinks of sin , which like so many common-shores , refuse not to welcome and incourage any , in the most loathsom pollutions they are able to invent , and put in practice . as did you but hear , and see , and smell , and know what is done in these taverns and ale-houses , you would wonder that the earth could bear the houses , or the sun indure to look upon them . that lest they should not in all this do homage enough to satan , they not seldom drink their healths upon their knees , as the heathen witches and sorcerers ( of whom these have learned it ) used to do , when they offered drink-offerings to beelzebub the prince of devils , and other their devil-gods . that these godless ale-drapers , and other sellers of drink , in entertaining into their houses , and complying with those traiters against god , and in suffering so much impiety to rest within their wals , do make themselves guilty of all , by suffering the same ; and that a fearfull curse hangs over their heads , so long as they remain such ▪ for if one sin of theft , or perjury is enough ▪ to rot the rafters , to grind the stones , to level the wals and roof of any house with the ground ; as it is zec. 5. 4. what are the oaths , the lies , the thefts , the whoredoms , the murthers , the damnable drunkenness , the numberless , and nameless abominations that are committed there . for these ale-house-keepers are accessory to the drunkards sin , and have a fearfull account to give for their tollerating such , since they might , and ought to redress it : so that their gain is most unjust , and all they have is by the the sins of the people ; as diogenes said of the strumpet phryne . 13. br. that of all seducing drunkards , these drink-sellers are the chief ; their whole life being nought else but a vicissitude of devouring and venting , and their whole study , how to tole in customers , and then egg them on to drink ; for as if drinking and tempting were their trade : they are alwayes guzling within doors , or else tempting at the door , where they spend their vacant hours , watching for a companion , as a spider would watch for a poor flie ; or as the whorish woman in the proverbs laid wait for the young novice , untill with her great craft , and flattering lips , she had caused him to yeeld , prov. 7. 6 , to 24. though when he sees a drunkard , if he but hold up his finger , the other follows him into his burrough , just like a fool to the stocks , and as an ox to the slaughter-house , having no power to withstand the temptation . so in he goes , and there continues as one bewitch'd , or conjur'd with a spell ; out of which he returns not , untill he hath emptied his purse of money , and his head of reason : while in the mean time his poor wife , children and servants want bread . that did sellers of drink aim at the glory of god , and good of others , as they ought , 1 cor. 10. 31. there would not be an hundreth part of the drunkards , beggars , brawls , and famished-families there are : whereas now thousands do in sheer drink , spend all the cloaths on their beds and backs . as be they poor labouring men , that must dearly earn it before they have it , these ale-house keepers , these vice-breeders , these soul-murtherers will make them drink away as much in a day , as they can get in a week ; spend twelve pence , sooner than earn two-pence , as st ambrose observes . that thousands of these labouring-men may be found in the very suburbs of this city , that drink the very blood of their wives and children , who are near famished , to satisfie the drunkards throat , or gut , wherein they are worse than infidels , or cannibals , 1 tim. 5. 8. who again are justly met withall : for as if god would pay them in their own coyn , how often shall you see vermine sucking the drunkards blood , as fast as he the others . 14. br. that these drunkards and ale-drapers are always laying their heads together , plotting and consulting how to charm and tame their poor wives ( for the drunkard and his wife agree like the harp and the harrow ) which if maids did but hear , they would rather make choice of an ape-carrier , or a jakes-farmers servant , than of one who will be drawn to the ale-house . for let them take this for a rule , he that is a tame devil abroad , will be a roaring devil at home ; and he that hath begun to be a drunkard , will ever be a drunkard . true , they will promise a maid fair , and bind themselves by an hundred oaths and protestations ; and she ( when love hath blinded and besotted her ) will believe them ; yea , promise her self the victory , not doubting but she shall reclaim him from his evil company ; but not one of a thousand , scarce one of ten thousand that ever finds it so , but the contrary . for let drunkards promise , yea and purpose what they will ; experience shews , that they mend as sowr ale does in summer ; or as a dead hedge , which the longer it stands is the rottener . and how should it be other , when they cannot go the length of a street , but they must pass by , perhaps an hundred ale-houses , where they shall be called in . and all the while they are in the drinking-school , they are bound by their law of good fellowship to be pouring in at their mouths , or whiffing out at their noses : one serving as a shoing-horn to the other ; which makes them like ratsban'd rats , drink and vent , vent and drink , sellengers round , and the same again . oh that a maids fore-wit were but so good as her after-wit ! then the drunkard should never have wife more to make a slave of , nor wives such cause to curse ale-house keepers , as now they have . and indeed , if i may speak my thoughts , or what reason propounds to me , drunkards are such children and fools ( to what governours of families ought to be ) that a rod is fitter for them than a wife . but of this by the way only , that maids may not so miserably cast away themselves ; for they had better be buried alive , than so married , as most poor mens wives can inform them . 15. br. that to speak to these demetriuses , that get their wealth by drinking ; yea , by helping to consume their drink , and that live only by sin , and the sins of the people , were to speed as paul did at ephesus , after some one of them had told the rest of their occupation . yea to expect amendment from such , in a manner were to expect amendment from a witch , who hath already given her soul to the devil . that to what hath been spoken of drunkards and drink-sellers in the particular cases of drinking and tempting , might be added seventy times seven more of the like abominations . for the drunkard is like some putrid grave , the deeper you dig , the fuller you shall find him both of stench and horrour : or like hercules's monster , wherein were fresh heads still arising one after the cutting off of another . but there needs no more than this taste , to make any wise man ( or any that love their own souls ) to detest and beware these bawds and pandors of vice , that breathe nothing but infection , and study nothing but their own , and other mens destruction . these brokers of villany , whose very acquaintance is destruction : as how can they be other than dangerously infectious , and desperately wicked , whose very mercies are cruelty ? 16. br. that i have unmasked their faces , is to infatuate their purpose : that i have inveighed and declaimed against drunkenness , is to keep men sober ; for vices true picture , makes us vice detest . o that i had dehortation answerable to my detestation of it ! only here is a discovery how drunkards tempt ; if you will see directions how to avoid their temptations , read my sovereign antidote against the contagion of evil company ▪ only take notice for the present , that the best way to avoid evil , is to shun the occasions : do not only shun drunkenness , but the means to come to it : and to avoid hurt , keep thy self out of shot ; come not in drunken company , nor to drinking places : as for their love and friendship , consider but whose facters they are , and thou wilt surely hate them . consider what i say , and the lord give you understanding in all things . postscript . considering the premisses , if there were any love of god , any hatred of sin , any zeal , any courage , any conscience of an oath in most of our justices of the peace , they would rather put down and purge out of their parishes and liberties , this viperous brood of vice-breeders , and soul-murtherers ( i mean ale-house keepers ) then increase them as they do , when any common drunkard , cheat , or witch may procure a licence to sell drink , if they will but bribe some one of their clerks . but if it be left to them ( if his highness himself do not by some other way redress it , as blessed be god he hath already begun the work in some counties ) look never to see it mended , untill christ comes in the clouds . only it is much to be feared , that as we turn the sanctuary of life into the shambles of death : so god may send a famine after such a satiety , and pestilence after famine . or rather that our land , which hath been so long sick of this disease , and so often surfeited of this sin , should spue us all out , who are the inhabitants . or in case god be pleased to dispense with the nation , the wickedness that is done by these drunkards and drink-sellers , shall be reckoned , unto those that are the permitters , for their own . for governors make themselves guilty of those sins they may redress , and will not . but i know to whom i speak , and my hopes are depending . in the mean time , it is sad to consider , how many drunkards will hear this charge , for one that will apply it to himself . for confident i am , that fifteen of twenty , all this city over , are drunkards , yea , seducing drunkards , in the dialect of scripture , & by the law of god , which extends even to the heart and affections , mat. 5. 21 , 22 , 28. perhaps by the laws of the land , a man is not taken for drunk , except his eyes stare , his tongue stutter , and his legs stagger ; but by gods law , he is one that goes often to the drink , or that tarrieth long at it , prov. 23. 30 , 31. he that will be drawn to the tavern or ale-house by every idle soliciter , and there be deteined to drink , when he hath neither need of it , or mind to it ; to the spending of his money , wasting of his precious time , neglect of his calling , abusing of the creatures ( which thousands want ) discredit of the gespel , the stumbling of weak ones , the incouraging of indifferent ones , the hardning of his associates , and all the truths enemies that know or hear of it . briefly , he that drinks more for lust , or pride , or covetousness , or fear , or good fellowship , or to drive away time , or to still conscience , than for thirst , is a drunkard in solomon's esteem , prov. 23. 30 , 31. perhaps thou dost not think so ; but can you produce that holy man of god , that will not deem him a drunkard , who can neither buy , nor sell , nor meet any friend , or customer , but he must go to the tavern , or ale-house , perhaps six times in a day ; and who constantly clubs it , first for his mornings draught , secondly at exchange-time , thirdly at night , when shops are shut in ; as is the common , but base custom of most tradesmen ; yea , and the devil so blinds them , that they will plead a necessity of it ; and that it is for their profit ? nor can it be denied , but in cases of this nature , things are rather measured by the intention and affection of the doer , than of the issue , and event . and why should not a man be deemed a drunkard for his immoderate and inordinate affection to drink , or drunken company ? as well as another , an adulterer , for the like affecton to his neighbours wife , matth. 5. 21 , 22 , 28. yet these men are in their own , and other mens esteem , not only good and civil men , but good christians forsooth . certainly , the more light we have , the more blind men are , or else this could not be ; for i would gladly ask such , are you christians ? in what part of the word find you a warrant for it ? where find you , that this custom was ever used by any one of the saints in former ages ? well may you ( with agrippa ) be almost christians , but sure enough , you are not with st paul , altogether such : and then what will become of you ? for almost a son is a bastard , almost sweet is unsavoury , almost hot is lukewarm ; and those that are lukewarm will god spue out of his mouth , rev. 3. 15 , 16. a christian almost , is like a woman that dieth in travel , almost she brought forth a son ; but that almost killed the mother , and the son too if thou believ'st almost , thou shalt be saved almost ; as we say of a thief that hath a pardon brought him whiles he is upon the gallows , he was almost saved , but he was hanged , and his pardon did him no good . to be almost a christian , is to be like the foolish virgins , that had lamps , but without oyl in them ; for which they were shut out of heaven , though they came to the very door , mat. 25. 10 , 11 , 12. can the door which is but almost shut , keep out the thief ? can the ship that is but almost tite , keep out the water ? the souldier that does but almost fight is a coward ? and therefore if thou lovest thy self , look to it , and that in time , lest hereafter you most dolefully rue it : for know this , that you shall once give an account for every idle peny and hour you spend , and for every cup of drink you shall spoil , or waste ; and for every one that is encouraged to do the like by your example . for which see mat. 12. 36. luke 16. 2. rom. 14. 12. 1 pet. 4. 5. rev. 20. 13. & 22. 12. that ( by the blessing of god ) our children , and childrens children may loath drunkenness , and love sobriety ; let this be fixed to some place convenient in every house , for all to read . the persians , parthians , spartans , and lacedemonians did the like , and found it exceeding efficacious : and anacharsis holds it the most effectual means to that end . imprimatur edmund calamie . finis . offer of help to drowning-men . imprimatur tho ▪ gataker . seeing , and fore-seeing the sad effects of mens crying down books , learning , the ministry , sanctification , &c. if this their deep and devilish design do meet with no stop : and seeing we should specially prepare for defence , where satan specially prepares for offence . considering also the numberless number of those that by professing themselves protestants , discredit the protestant religion : who because they have been christened , as simon magus was , received the sacrament of the lords supper , like judas ; and for company go to church also as dogs do , are called christians , as we call the heathen images gods : yea , and ( being blinded by the prince of darkness , 2 cor. 4. 4. ) think to be saved by christ , though they take up arms against him : and are no more like christians , than michols image of goats hair was like david : who make the world only their god , & pleasure or profit alone their religion : who are so graceless , that god is not in all their thoughts ; except to blaspheme him , and to spend his dayes in the devils service : who being christians in name , will scoff at a christian indeed : who honour the dead saints in a cold profession , while they worry the living saints in a cruel persecution : who so hate holiness , that they will hate a man for it ; and say of good living , ( as festus of great learning ) it makes a man mad : whose hearts will rise at the sight of a good man , as some stomacks will rise at the sight of sweet meats : whose religion is to oppose the power of religion ; and whose knowledge of the truth , to know how to argue against the truth : who justifie the wicked , and condemn the just : who call zeal , madness ; and religion , foolishness : who love their sins so much above their souls , that they will not only mock their admonisher , scoff at the means to be saved , and make themselves merry with their own damnations ; but even hate one to the death , for shewing them the way to eternal life : who will condemn all for round-heads , that have more religion than an heathen , or knowledg of heavenly things , than a child in the womb hath of the things of this life ; or conscience than an atheist , or care of his soul , than a beast , and are mockers of all that march not under the pay of the devil : who with adam , will become satans bondslaves for an apple ; and like esau , sell their birth-right of grace here , and their blessing of glory hereafter for a mess of pottage : who prefer the pleasing of their palates before the saving of their souls : who have not only cast off religion , that should make them good men ; but reason also , that should make them men : who waste virtues faster than riches , and riches faster than any virtues can get them : who do nothing else but sin , and make others sin too : who spend their time and patrimonies in riot ; and upon dice , drabs , drunkenness ; who place all their felicity in a tavern or brothel-house , where harlots and sycophants rifle their estates , and then send them to rob : who will borrow of every one , but never intend to satisfie any one : who glory in their shame , and are ashamed of that which should and would be their glory : who desire not the reputation of honesty , but of good fellowship : who in stead of quenching their thirst , drown their senses ; and had rather leave their wits , than the wine behind them : who place their paradise in their throats , heaven in their guts : and make their belly their god : who pour their patrimonies down their throats , and throw the house so long out at windows , that at length their house throws them out of doors : who think every one exorbitant that walks not after their rule : who will traduce all whom they cannot seduce ; even condemning with their tongues , what they commend in their consciences : who , as they have no reason , so they will hear none : who are not more blind to their own faults , than quick-sighted in other mens : who being displeased with others , will flie in their makers face , and tear their saviours name in pieces with oaths and execrations , as being worse than any mad dog that flies in his masters face that keeps him : who swear and curse even out of custom , as currs bark ; yea , they have so sworn away all grace , that they count it a grace to swear ; and being reproved for swearing , they will swear that they swore not . or perhaps they are covetous cormorants , greedy gripers , miserly muck-worms ; all whose reaches are at riches : who make gold their god , and commodity the stern of their consciences : who hold every thing lawfull , if it be gainfull : who prefer a little base pelf before god , and their own salvations ; and who being fatted with gods blessings , do spurn at his precepts : who like men sleeping in a boat , are carried down the stream of this world , untill they arrive at their gravesend [ death ] without once waking to bethink themselves whether they are a going [ to heaven or hell . ] or ignorant and formal hypocrites : who do as they see others do , without either conscience of sin , or guidance of reason : who do what is morally good , more for fear of the law , then for love of the gospel : who fear the magistrate more , than they fear god or the devil ; regard more the blasts of mens breath , than the fire of gods wrath ; will tremble more at the thought of a bailiff , or a prison , than of satan , or hell , and everlasting perdition : who will say , they love god and christ , yet hate all that any way resemble him ; are flint unto god , wax to satan ; have their ears alwayes open to the tempter , shut to their maker and redeemer ; will chuse rather to disobey god , than displease great ones ; fear more the worlds scorns , than his anger ; and rather than abridge themselves of their pleasure , will incur the displeasure of god : who will do what god forbids , yet confidently hope to escape what he threatens : who will do the devils works only , and yet look for christs wages ; expect that heaven will meet them at their last hour , when all their life long they have galloped in the beaten road towards hell : who expect to have christ their redeemer and advocate ; when their consciences tell them , that they seldom remember him , but to blaspheme him ; and more often name him in their oaths and curses , than in their prayers : who will persecute honest and orthodox christians ; and say , they mean base and dissembling hypocrites : who think they do god service in killing his servants , joh. 16. 2. who will boast of a strong faith , and yet fall short of the devils in believing , jam. 2. 19. who turn the grace of god into wantonness ; as if a condemned person should head his drum of rebellion with his pardon ; resolving to be evil , because god is good : who will not believe what is written , till they feel what is written ; and whom nothing will confute , but fire and brimstone : who think their villany is unseen , because it is unpunished ; and therefore live like beasts , because they think they shall die like beasts . considering the swarms , legions , millions of these , i say , and many the like , which i cannot stand to repeat . as also in reference to lev. 19. 17. isa. 58. 1. and out of compassion to their precious souls ; there are above twenty several books purposely composed , wherein are proper remedies ( of the same alloy ) for each soul seduced or afflicted ; to be had without any expence : which books ( like glasses ) will shew them ( from gods word ) the very faces of their hearts : and ( like peter to cornelius , act. 11. ) tell them words whereby ( with blessing from above ) both they , and their associates ( by their means ) may be saved , ver. 14. and that they might the better recompence the readers pains ; whether he propound to himself pleasure or profit : they are ( as many reverend divines deem ) a brief collection of the most winning and convincing arguments out of the choisest authors ; very pithily , orderly , and elegantly conveyed , and embellished with much both variety of graceful and delightful illustration . yea , if such as they concern , shall be pleased to make use of them ; they may ( with gods blessing ) not only have their vices lessened , their knowledge increased , and their minds cheered and comforted : but probably they shall find in them the flower , cream , or quintessence , of what would otherwise cost them twenty years reading to extract . it remains only , that the patients , for whom this physick is proper , be prevailed withall to take it . for although here is all necessary provision made , and the guests lovingly invited , yet ( of themselves ) they will refuse to come , as in that parable of the lords supper , luk. 14. 16. to 25. because , as good meats are unwelcome to sick persons ; so is good counsel to obstinate sinners . here is light , but they love darkness rather than light ; lest their deeds which are evil , should be reproved . only they that do well , and love truth , will come to the light , that their deeds may be made manifest , joh 3. 19 , 20 , 21. also many young novices in sin , will entertain them , as lot did those angels , that came to fetch him out of sodom , gen. 19. and probably some parents and masters will desire them , to prevent the spreading of these gangrenes in their children and servants . but as for the parties principally concerned and invited , and that stand in the greatest need , and are most to be pitied ; they will even storm at this very offer of help , and hiss like serpents , because it troubles their nests . being like him , luk. 8. 27 , 28. who having bin possest with devils a long time , was at length very loath to part with his guests . indeed , if some , whose hearts god hath already changed , would put them into their hands , and use their best art to make them relished : ( for like babes , meat must not only be given them , but prepared too , and put into their mouths , ) some return of good might happily come thereof . as weak means shall serve the turn , where god intends success . even a word seasonably spoken ( god blessing it ) like a rudder , sometimes steers a man quite into another course . antiochus by hearing from a poor man , all the faults which he and his favourites had committed , carried himself most virtuously ever after ▪ antoninus amended his future life and manners , by only hearing what the people spake of him . the very crowing of a cock occasioned peters repentance . augustine , that famous doctor , was converted , by only reading that text , rom. 13. 13. let us walk honestly , as in the day-time , &c. learned junius , with reading the first chapter of st johns gospel , was won to the faith of christ . and melancthon much after the same manner . i have read of two famous strumpets , , that were suddenly converted by this only argument , that god seeth all things , even in the dark ; when the doors are shut , and the curtains drawn . and mountaign tels of a libidinous gentleman , that sporting with a courtizan in a house of sin , happened to ask her name , which she said was mary ; whereat he was so stricken with reverence and remorse ; that he instantly both cast off the harlot , and amended his whole future life . bilney's confe●sion converted latimer : yea , adrianus was not only converted , but became a martyr too , by only hearing a martyr at the stake alledge that text , eye hath not seen , nor ear heard , &c. 1 cor. 2. 9. yea , it was an observation of mr john lindsay , that the very smoke of mr hamilton converted as many as it blew upon . yea , even those jews that crucified the son of god , were converted by hearing those few words of peter , act. 2. and it pleased god , when , my self , was in as hopeless a condition , as any of those sensualists before mentioned ; ( i mean , as much fore-stalled with prejudice against religion , and the religious ) that a poor mans perswading me to leave reading of poetry , and fall upon the bible , was a means of changing my heart , before i had read out genesis , being but twenty years of age : whom ● more bless god for , than for my parents from whom i received life . and this ( because i know no better way to express my thankfulness to him , who hath freed me from frying in hel-flames for ever and ever , than by endeavoring to win others from satans standard to christs ) makes me do the like to others . for i seldom hear any one swear , or scoff , or see any drunk , or the like , but i present them with one of these fore-mentioned messages , from that god , whom they so daringly and audaciously provoke . nor do i alwayes miss the mark at which i aim . and i tel it you , because many discreet ones are apt to wonder , that i so make my ●f a scorn and gazing stock to fools : though i shall never think it a shame to me , ●hich was the only glory of him , that was a man after gods own heart , as you ●ay very often hear him profess , as in psal. 50. 15. & 71. 17 , 18 , 19 , 24. & 51. 14. ●119 . 171. & 22. 22. & 35. 18. and many the like ; see luk. 8. 38 , 39. i also mention it , that i may ( if possible in this covetous , cold and dull age ) ●ovoke others to do the same ; or at least somthing for the saving of these poor , ●●norant , and impotent wretches ; that are neither able nor willing to help them●●lves , though as one would think ( for i speak to enlightned souls ) they should ●ot need spurring , nor prompting to this duty : for what heart would it not ●ake to bleed , that hath any christian blood in his veins , to see what multitudes ●ere are that go blind-fold to destruction ; and no man offer to stop or check ●●em before they arrive there , from whence there is no redemption . mat. 7. ●3 , 14. 1 joh. 5. 19. rev. 20. 8. & 13. 16. isa. 10. 22. rom. 9. 27. 2 tim. 2. 26. 2 cor. 〈◊〉 4. eph. 2. 1 , to 4 , phil. 3. 18. joh 8. 44. & 14. 30. ● yea , how should it not make all , that are themselves got out of satans clutches , ●●ot , study , & contrive all they can ; to draw others of their brethren after them . we read that andrew was no sooner converted , and become christs disciple , ●ut instantly he drew others after him to the same faith , joh. 1. 41. & the like of philip , ver. 45. and of the woman of samaria , joh. 4. 28 , to 41. and of peter , luke ●2 . 32. act. 2. 41. & chap 3. & 4. 4. and so of all the apostles . yea , moses so thrist●d after the salvation of israel , that rather than he would be saved without ●hem , he desired the lord to blot him out of the book of life , exo. 32. 32. and paul 〈◊〉 this purpose saith , i could wish my self to he separated from christ , for my brethren , ●●at are my kinsmen according to the flesh : meaning the jews , rom. 9. 3. and indeed ●ll heavenly hearts are charitable . neither are we of the communion of saints , if ●e desire not the blessedness of others : it being an inseparable adjunct , or rela●●ve to grace ; for none but a cain will say , am i my brothers keeper ? yea , where the ●eart is thankful , and inflamed with the love of god , and our neighbour , this will be ●●e principal aim : as by my sins , and bad example , i have drawn others from god , 〈◊〉 now i will , all i can , draw others with my self to god . saul converted , will build 〈◊〉 , as fast as ever he plucked down , & preach as zealously as ever he persecuted . and ●e are no whit thankful for our own salvation , if we do not look with charity and ●●ty upon the gross mis-opinions & misprisions of our brethren . and what though ●e cannot do what we would ? yet we must labour to do what we can , to win o●●ers ; not to merit by it , but to express our thanks . besides , it were very disho●orable to christ not to do so . did you ever know that wicked men , thievs , drun●ards , adulterers , persecutors , false prophets , or the like , would be damned alone ? no ●●ey mis-leade all they can , as desiring to have companions . yea , the pharisees ●ould take great pains , compass sea and land , to make others two-fold more the chil●ren of hell then themselves , as our saviour expresly saith , mat. 23. 15. which ●ay cast a blush upon our cheeks , who are nothing so industrious to win souls 〈◊〉 god . and what a shame is it , that our god should not have as faithfull ●●rvants , as he hath unfaithfull enemies ? that wicked men should be at more ●●st and pains to please an ill master , than we can afford to please so good a ●od , so gracious , and so loving a father ? shall they labour so hard , for that ●hich will but inhance their damnation ? and shall we think any pains too much for that , which will add to the weight of our eternal glory and salvation . and what though their case be not only desperate , but almost hopeless ? ( as i● reason , that sin is past cure , which strives against the cure : nor would these drowning men refuse help , were they not wilful murtherers of their own souls ) yet ther● is a mercy due even to them : and it is our duty to use the means ; leaving the i●sue to him , who is able to quicken the dead , and to make even of stones children to abraham ; witness manasses in the old testament , and paul in the new ▪ yea , i suppose , that this their sad condition , cals for our more ▪ than ordinary compassio● since they have precious souls , that must everlastingly live , in bliss , or wo . an● hence it is , that the angels are said to rejoyce more at the conversion of such a sinne● then for the building up of ninety and nine , that are already converted , luk. 15. 7. because he to whom god hath given a new heart , and spiritual life , will be sure 〈◊〉 seek out for , and use the means of growing in grace , and in the knowledg of our lo●● and saviour jesus christ . whereas the former are not only dead in sin ; but so b●ried in the grave of long custom , that they cannot stir the least joint ; no , not 〈◊〉 much as feel their deadness , nor desire life ; but resist all means tending thereunt● insomuch , that the conversion of such an one is , held by divines a greater worl● or miracle , than the creating of the whole world : for in every new creature are 〈◊〉 number of miracles ; a blind man is restored to sight : a deaf man to hearing , a m●● possest with many devils , dispossest ; yea , a dead man raised from the dead ; an● in every one a stone turned into flesh : in all which god meets with nothing 〈◊〉 opposition , which in the creation he met not with . wherefore you , that ( by calling to mind your own former blindness , and bo●dage ) are able to know how it fares with them ; and accordingly to pity the●● you that fear god , or have any bowels of compassion towards their precious soul●● use your utmost indeavour to reduce them ; earnestly admonish them ; draw them●● hear some boanerges , that preaches with power and authority , and not as the scribe● perswade them also to read books that are convincing , &c. so shall you dischar●● your duty to god , shew your love to them , your thankfulness to your redeemer ; an● not a little pleasure your selves . for if you do gain them , you shall shine as the sta●● in heaven , for ever and ever , dan. 12. 3. or in case you cannot reclaim them , 〈◊〉 he who requires it at your hands , will return the same into your own bosoms , i●● 49. 4 , 5. prov. 11. 18. & 25. 22. but i were as good knock at a deaf mans door , as press or perswade the most to the duty , though thus necessary : for those two idols , discretion and cursed covetousn●●bear a greater sway with the common professors of this age , than either their ma●●or redeemer : though confident i am , others will do more than i●say , philem. 21● melancthon having found the word , most easily to prevail with him , doubt●● not but his preaching should do wonders upon others : but having tried , he fou●● and confest , that old adam , was too strong for young melancthon . many lepers were in israel , in the time of elizeus the prophet , but none of the was cleansed , saving naaman the syrian , luk. 4. 22. to 29. many are called , but few are chosen , mat. 22. 14. finis . printed by a. m. and are to be sold by henry crips in popes-head-alley , and ja●● crump , in little-bartholmews well-yard , who will also shew the other books , and tell the place where any one may borrow them gratis , 1658. england's bane, or, the deadly danger of drunkenness described in a letter to a friend wherein are many convincing arguments against it and many aggravations of it in professors of religion, and many other things tending to a reformation of that beastly sin / by edward bury. bury, edward, 1616-1700. 1677 approx. 133 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 46 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a30674 wing b6205 estc r23888 07918475 ocm 07918475 40444 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a30674) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 40444) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1199:26) england's bane, or, the deadly danger of drunkenness described in a letter to a friend wherein are many convincing arguments against it and many aggravations of it in professors of religion, and many other things tending to a reformation of that beastly sin / by edward bury. bury, edward, 1616-1700. [5], 80 p. printed for tho. parkhurst, london : 1677. running title: a disswasive from drunkenness. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng alcoholism. 2006-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-03 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion england's bane , or the deadly danger of drunkennels described in a letter to a friend : wherein are many convincing arguments against it , and many aggravations of it , in professors of religion ; and many other things tending to a reformation of that beastly sin. by edward bvry , late minister of great-bolas in shropshire . isa . xxviii . 1. wo to the crown of pride to the drunkards of ephraaim , &c. hab. ii. 15. wo to him that gives his neighbour drink , that puttest thy bottle to him , and makest him drunk also , &c. london , printed for tho. parkhurst at the bible and three growns in cheapside near mercers-chappel . 1677. licenced and entred according to order . to the reader . courteous reader , though these following lines were at first designed for a private person , and so adapted to his condition , yet seeing there are many , oh too many sick of the same disease ! and drunkenness is become a publick distemper in poor and rich ; i thought it not amiss to make my receipt publick also . this disease is become epidemical , and all the physicians in england know not how to set a stop to it , 't is like a mighty torrent that bears down all before it , so that drunkenness and adultery seem to strive for the preheminence . now though i cannot imagine that my little dam can set a stop to this fierce flood , which doubtless will soon mount over it , and bear it down , yet being made in some small stream it may possibly do some good , or however , when i have done my duty , and witnessed for my god against this debauchery , my reward will be with my god , and though israel be not gathered my labour will not be in vain , isa . 49. 4 &c. and i shall stand up at last in my lot to witness against those that now shut their eyes against the light : if these lines meet with any that are not guilty , let them bless god that hath made them to differ , and let them be preventing physick against future temptations , and let him that standeth take heed least he fall . but reader , if thou art guilty , consider well the strength of reason , and the sorce of scripture arguments here brought , for thy conviction , and shut not thine eyes against either , for the time will come god will open them , and if thou canst not speak as much reason and scripture for drunkenness , as bere thou findest against it , take heed of resisting god , and the message he hath sent thee , for i am sure thou canst not resist his judgments , which he hath threatned against such wilful offenders , and 't is hard to kick against the pricks . i know this discourse runs cross to the humours of the time , and the sinful inclination of corrupt nature , yet though the physick seem sharp 't is safe , old diseases are not usually cured with cordial syrups , nor old feastered sores with lenitive plasters , a gentle reproof will not work upon an incorrigible person , or gray headed sinner ; some happly may quarrel the language , as well as the matter , because the pills are not sugared , but when there is fire in the town , men stand not to make an eloquent oration , but cry fire , fire , i write to those that many times can neither speak sence nor understand reason , to those who had rather be accounted good-fellows , than either good livers or good christians ; and my design is to make them better livers , rather than better rhetoricians , and seeing they sin in english why should they be reproved in latine , they had need have one speak loud enough , lest they are asleep , or amidst the crowd of their drunken companions ; for then 't is hard to make them hear or regard . all the plagues of egypt could not awaken pharaoh till the red sea convinced him ; neither could all the miracles of christ convince the jews till titus vespatian swept them away : the sodomites when struck with blindness , yet were not cured of their madness , till fire , and brimstone convinc'd them of their folly , and 't is to be feared , that nothing but fire and brimstone will awake many of our drowsy drunkards ; this will make them see god spake in earnest what they took in jeast . if any pretend they make no profession of religion , and therefore are not concerned with part of the book , it being adapted only to such , this will prove but a bad excuse , they never pretended to serve god , and therefore may the more freely break his laws , but i conceive all those that own that there is a god , make some profession to serve him , but let their profession be what it will , without holiness they shall never enjoy happiness , and truly till a man break off from wicked company there is little hopes of a resormation . when peter was in caiphas's hall , he soon learnt to deny his master , when joseph was in egypt he learnt to swear by the life of pharaoh ; if solomon will have pharaoh's daughter to wife , he shall have her idols also . the fuller in the fable , would not dwell with the collier for fear of a smut , and whoever would avoid drunkenness must avoid drunken companions : he that would avoid infection must beware of infected persons , and infected places ; a man that would be chast must not live in a brothel-house , and he that would be sober must not haunt alehouses and taverns . i shall add no more at present , but wish that what i have written may be beneficial to that end for which it is written . i now rest , thy unfeigned welwisher edward bury . eaton , jan. 1. 1676. a disswasive from drunkenness . dear friend , the love i bear to you , and your relations , puts me on this unpleasing , and perhaps ungrateful work of reprehension , your extravagancies of late years are too manifest to be concealed , and the course you take in spending your time , wasting your estate , imparing your credit , and indangering your soul in frequenting alchouses and taverns is so bad , that it calls for a speedy remedy or you are like to be undone : and after so many admonitions , so many reproofs , so many promises and protestations , and resolutions of reformation , yet nothing is done ; this hath been no small grief to me . in this distemper therefore give me leave also among other physicians to prescribe you some pills , which though they may seem untoothsom , may prove wholsom , and may be the better swallowed being sugared with love ; a feastered sore is seldom cured with gentle lenitives , a desperat disease must have a desperate cure , what the event of it may be as to you i know not , or what effect it will work upon you , however my reward will be with god , and my judgment with the most high : you may read my commission , lev. 16. 17. thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart , thou shalt in any wise rebuke him , and not suffer sin to lie upon him . he is no friend to your soul that is a friend to your sin ; 't is true solomon adviseth , not to reprove a scorner lest he hate thee , but rebuke a wise man and he will love thee , prov. 9. 8. and by your reception of this , you will discover your wisdom or folly , david bid , let the righteous smite me , it shall be a kindness , let him reprove me , it shall be an excellent oyle , which shall not break my head , for my prayer also shall be in their calamities , psal . 141. 5. and we find he loved nathan never the worse for a sharp reproof ; 't is a christians duty , much more a ministers , which we owe to all that offend , much more to our relations , rebuke them sharply ( saith the apostle ) that they may be sound in the faith , tit. 1. 13. and though it should not be scalding hot , yet it should have some heat , though railing and reviling should be laid aside , yet zeal and fervency are necessary ingredients ; 't is true christ bids us , not give holy things to dogs , neither to cast pearls before swine , lest they turn again and rent us , matth. 7. 6. yet like i not their judgment , who to save themselves a labour of reproving make all offenders to be dogs and swine , and never make a trial of them : should you prove thus , i should hereafter take christs advice , 't is a sign of a gall'd back that cannot endure rubbing , and of a gall'd conscience to kick against reproofs : 't is a good observation of one , that admonition and reprehension whether it be true or false , whether it come from a friend , or a foe , never doth a wise man harm , if true , he knows what to amend , if false , of what to beware . to judge the wound incurable , be-before it be searched , or before we have made an experiment , is but uncharitable dealing , i choose rather with the compassionate samaritan to pour in oyl and wine . the usual mode of flattery to skin over the sore , is not safest , 't is better if we search it to the bottom , though it make it smart , but to leave apologizing i shall address my self to you in these ten following considerations , and desire in the words of a minister , of a friend , and of a relation , and as you will answer the contrary before the great god , the scearcher of all hearts , at your peril lay them to heart examin their weight , and the evidence of truth , that comes along with them , and if you cannot give a satisfactory answer to them , leave off those courses you follow , shake off the company you keep , apply your self to the duty of religion , and remember from whence you are fallen , and do your first works . consid . 1. consider drunkenness is such a sin , as takes away the use of reason and turns a man into a beast , yea makes him worse than a beast , he that in the creation was made little lower than the angels , is now become lower than the beast , and the time is coming if repentance prevent not , that the drunkard will wish he had been made a beast ; what is it that differenceth a man from a beast but the use of reason , but if reason be drowned , as it is in the drunkard where lies the difference , thus whoredom , wine , and new wine take away the heart , hos . 4. 11. by circes charms vlisses's men were turned into beasts , strong drink is as powerful , for this turns them into swine , nebuchadnezzar had his understanding taken from him , and a beasts heart given him , and so have these , 't is true they retain the shape of men , and that is all , for they much resemble swine in this also , in their nasty behaviour , wallowing in their vomit , and moiling themselves in their dung , and dirt , but they are very brutes in their understanding , but many sorts of beasts are more capacious of instruction than they are in their drunken fits ; you may better instruct a horse , and mule , and a spaniel dog , than you can them , if you speak reason they understand it not , neither can they speak sence : oh the horrible nature of fin , that so transforms so glorious a creature : the wicked in scriptures are oft-times compared to , yea called by the names of beasts for their beastlike qualities , as the lion , the bear , the leopard , the bull , the serpent , the fox , the cocatrice , the asp , and many other , but the drunkard is fitly compared to a swine for nastiness , for i know not any other creature that will drink till he burst ; and doth delight so much in swill , and wallowing in the mire : the very sight of a drunkard is enough to overset a mans stomack , his nasty belches , vomits and other more filthy demeanours . he may also very fitly be compared to an aerffe , a beast bred in the north of suetia , who when he hath caught his prey , glutteth himself as long as his skin will hold , and when he can eat no more , straineth himself between two trees , till he hath vented backwards what he hath taken , and then filleth again , and spends his time in filling and emptying , and is not this the very practice of a drunkard ? doth he not continue from morning till night , filling and emptying his belly , by vomiting or otherwise , as the daughters of danaus are feigned to do their bottomless tubs , which run out as fast as they pour in ? do not many of them drink all the wit out of their heads , and all the money out of their purses , and yet with the horse-leech still cry give , give , are not many as covetous of drink as others are of gold , and and can never say 't is enough , they have a dry dropsy , the more they drink the more they may , and thus they spend the time from morning till night , yea some from one weeks end to another , filling and emptying as a brewer doth his barrels , and live the very lives of swine , drinking in their swill , and wallowing in the mire , sleep and snort , and up again and at it ; nay they are worse than beasts who do but their kind , and answer the end of their creation , they retain what god gave them in the creation , but these do not , they lose not only gods image , but the use of reason also , nay sence it self , and their locomotive faculty , which beasts keep : some of them go upon all four , some are dead-drunk and cannot stand , the beast is serviceable in his kind , the drunkard good for nothing but to spend and consume : oh that such a noble creature should unman himself , and yeild to so poor a temptation as a cup of drink , and sell his reason at so low a rate , if therefore you would not thus beastify your self and make your condition worse than the beast that perisheth , if you would not make your self an unprofitable burthen to the commonwealth , and the object of gods infinit hatred , take heed of this detestable vice . consid . 2. consider also how much this beastly sin of drunkenness doth debauch , defile , deform the body of man which should be the temple of the holy ghost , holy and honourable : yea how it weakens it , fills it with diseases , distempers , and disorders , which often prove mortal , and set a period to life it self : the body of man is in it self a famous fabrick , a beautiful pile , a sumptuous structure , and bespeaks god for it's author , and of all the visible creation seems to be gods masterpiece ; if we take it in pieces and consider it in its parts , you will find it an excellent piece of work , every piece being so useful and exact , nothing wanting , nothing redundant ; the heart , the liver , the brain , the brain , the muscles , sinews , nerves , arteries , veins , and ligaments , and the several members of the body , yea the whole is a beautiful piece dropt out of the hands of a choice workman , but this filthy vice doth so deform , deface , and defile it , that it looks not like that which god created it to be , how doth it deform the face ? the nose , the eyes , the cheeks are red and pimpled , the face swoln like a bladder , the countenance disturbed , writhen , and deformed . how many beautiful comly faces , both of men and women are thus spoiled ? set on fire , and bedecked with pearls and rubies , pimples , pushes , and rough and rugged skin ? to whom ( saith solomon ) is redness of eyes ? &c. to them that tarry long at the wine , to them that seek mixt wine . what meazil faces , what swoln bellies , legs and thighs , and other parts usually have they , and commonly their diseases and distempers within are not fewer than their deformities without : for this filthy vice quenches the natural heat , and drowns the vital spirits , impairs the health , weakens the body , and is the seminary of many diseases , gouts , dropsies , feavers , and what not , and disposes it for a dissolution , and in a few years , even in young men , we may evidently see a wonderful change , a strange metamorphosis in those addicted to drunkenness , they become lothsom to others , and burthensom to themselves , that their legs are not able to do their office to carry them , as they would do nothing , so now they can do nothing that is good , they are unfit to live being good for nothing , and most unfit to dye ; and as they are like hogs , always desiring their swill , so they are fit for no other society ; they are swine , and like vlisses's men desire no other happiness , they think there is no heaven but in their filthy swinish pleasure , no good-fellowship but amidst their pots , no such delight on earth as to make each other drunk , and no love like to this ; and thus they live undesired , and die unlamented , except by those of their own fraternity , who if their means be spent , matter not to see each other hanged out of the way when they once come to be troublsome ; if therefore you would not be troubled with those deformities of body , and not only race out the image of god , but also the image of a man , if you would not be pointed out in the street for a drunkard , and known by the buttry door , buttons upon your nose and face , if you would not be filled with diseases , and infirmities incident to this vice , such as you are never like to be freed from while you live , if you would not make your self loathsom to god and man , and unfit your self for any calling , occupation , or business whatsoever , if you would not disable your self to do any duty to god or man , take heed of this filthy vice ; for this by the just judgment of god , oft-times follows upon these lewd courses : t is not in vain the holy ghost pronounceth wo to him that riseth early in the morning that he may follow strong drink and continue till night , till wine enflame him . some part of their wo is in this life , but the greatest part is reserved for hereafter , yet most men are insensible of it , we may say of the sword and drunkenness , as the women did of saul and david , the sword hath slain thousands , but intemperance ten thousands . consid . 3. this filthy swinish sin of drunkenness , for i know not how to give it a fitter epithet , doth not only take away the beauty of the body , and fill it full with diseases as before i proved ; but 't is also the grave to bury the good name , where it will for ever rot , and stink in the nostrils of god and good men , and makes it go out in a stinking snuff : a good name ( saith solomon ) is rather to be chosen than great riches , prov. 22. 1. and indeed cannot be purchased with gold , many men that have purchased great estates could not purchase a good name . now the drunkard , a right prodigal , sells his name as cheap as esau did his birth-right , for a little drink , as lycimacus did his kingdom for a draught of water , yea , and that when he hath enough before , and brings an odium upon himself which he can never blot out ; for as a good name may continue when riches are gone , so this blot lies upon him when his drink is gone , a good name is better than precious ointment , eccl. 7. 1. it comforts the heart , with the smell it holds up the head , and chears the heart , and leaves a good savour behind it ; 't is durable and preserves from putrifaction , when the name of the wicked shall rot , it smells sweet when the other goes out in a snuff ; the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance , but the other are either buried in oblivion or remembred to their shame , this filthy vice rots the name that 't is never remembred but with obloquie ; when mention is made of heliogabalus , sardanapalus , and such beastly belly-gods , with what contempt do we speak of them ? tiberius was in scorn called biberius for his excessive drinking ; this one bad one drowns all other good parts in a man ; is it not the constant language of men when they see a drunkard , yonder goes a toss-pot , a swill-bowl , a drunken swine , a belly-god , do you see how he reels ? how he vomits ? it would turn a mans stomach to see him , here lies the cloak , there the hat , there the swine lies sleeping , snorting , wallowing in his vomit more fit for the dunghil than the house , for the company of swine than men ; and when he is dead this may be his epitaph , here lies one that made his gut his god , and drinking healths was his greatest devotion , he was his own executor , he lived undesired , and died unlamented : and indeed , no wise man will willingly be seen in his company , for as 't is a blemish to keep company with a whore , so 't is with a drunkard ; he that keepeth company with a riotous person shameth his father , prov. 28. 7. yea , they shame themselves , and many get a blot not easily removed ; these men are like the locusts , all belly from head to tail , and make little use of the rest of their body . in the fable where the hands and the feet and other parts that complained of the belly for devouring all , and doing nothing , denyed it food , whereupon the whole body faints , &c. this shews their ignorance , for there the belly contributes to each part for their sustentation , but if ever there be reason , it is certainly the other parts has reason , has here cause to complain of the belly ; for it robs the back and other parts , and devours all , and fills the body with loathsom diseases : 't is fabled the giant briareus had an hundred hands , and fifty bellies , but some men have one belly would devour as much as an hundred hands can get , and commonly the greatest bouzers are the greatest buzzards and are fit for nothing but to drink : these not only shame , but undo their families , friends , children , and relations , and are a shame to the place they are bred , to the church and nation where they live ; they are ( as one saith ) the devils eldest sons , and therefore when they come to their inheritance in hell , they will be sure of a double portion : they bring much grist to his mill , and have done their father much service , and may expect good wages ; some of them have been well educated , received many talents , have learning , parts , gifts , and endowments , which they have not only lost , but obliterated reason it self , and god hath deprived them of those talents , and bestowed them on others , and will condemn them to utter darkness , mat. 25. 28 , &c. and whenever they die , they shall leave a stink behind them , for did you ever find a sweet savour proceed from a putrified member . if therefore you would preserve a good name , and merit a good report among the wisest , soberest , most serious persons , take heed of this odious sin which certainly will brand you with infamy , and load you with obloquy and disgrace . consid . 4. as this sin doth deform the body , and blemish the name , so it also debauches the soul , and inclines it to all manner of wickedness , for what sin is so odious , that a drunkard in his cups will refuse to do , when the drink is in , the wit is out , and when he is heated in his drink , he is pot-valiant , and will prove the devils champion , and undertake any enterprize : we have known , or heard it at at least , when in drink some have killed their fathers and mothers , ravished their sisters , murdered their best friends , and nearest relations , and do we not daily see , though not perhaps every individual drunkard , they are commonly great swearers , blasphemers , flying out in their cups at the very face of god , are they not usually great liars , ribald filthy obscene speakers , quarrellers fighters reproachers , and what not ? what service soever the devil hath for them to do , they are prest to do it , though he sets them about the most dangerous unreasonable work in the world , and the basest drudgery ; the taverns and alehouses are the devils schools , where his language of hell is taught , and his shop , where men are trained up in his work , and commonly out of hell you shall scarce hear any speak his language more naturally , then there : for here commonly are some old artists provided to instruct the rest in this devilish art of hellish rhetorick , and to discourse here of religion , holiness , and the power of godliness , seems as unsutable and unsafe as to discourse of the protestant principles before the spanish inquisitors , or the conclave of cardinals , yea some are ready to quarrel that man that names god except in an oath , or vain speech , as one that comes to torment them before the time , and comes on purpose to spoil their sport . now what pleasure can a man take in such company ? solomon adviseth , prov. 22. 24 , 25. make no friendship with an angry man , and with a furious man thou shalt not go , lest thou learn his ways , and get a snare to thy soul : and the like reason holds here among debauched sinners , where never good can be learned , many temes evil , he that toucheth pitch shall be defiled , and he that meddles with a wicked man gets himself a blot , he that danceth among the devils lime-twigs is commonly snared in them . the drunkards are leperous persons , no clean person should associate himself with them , they have a plague-sore upon them , and we may well fear the infection . man is an imitable creature , and like the camelion apt to change with the company , and like drink apt to smell of the cask , and this sin is as infectious as the plague it self , and more dangerous ; that only kils the the body , this soul and body , their acts usually increase the habits , and at last bring it to a custom , and custom is a second nature , and after a while that sin which at first men stumble at , at last 't is as easy as water to run down the chanel , 't is a sure signe of an ungracious heart to delight in wicked company , noscitur ex comite qui non dignoscitur ex se . what solomon speaks by way of caution concerning the whorish woman , may be applied here , prov. 5. 8. remove thy way far from her , come not nigh to the door of her house ; this would be safe in this case , he that would not be burnt must dread the fire , he that would not hear the bell must not meddle with the roap , to venture upon the temptation , and then to pray lead us not into temptation , is like him that puts his fnger into the fire and prayes that it may not be burnt , or leaps into the sea wilfully , and prays against drowning ; custom in sin boldens a man , hardens his heart , and sears his conscience : at first a man deals by sin , as the fox in the fable with the lion , at first he is terrified , the next time a little bolder , afterward approaches nearer and discourses him , the application is easy , he that walks in the council of the vngodly , will e're long stand in the way of sinners , yea and sit in the seat of the scornful , psal . 1. 1. in those societies you can hardly choose but hear some mock , or scorn blurted against the power of godliness , which methinks should savour ill-with a gracious heart , yea with an ingracious man , and spoil all his mirth ; strict holiness must needs be censured , at least for needless scrupulosity ; or how can persons satisfy themselves in their debauched practices ; at first it may be , such discourse may trouble them , having drunk in other principles , but in time this will wear off , and down well enough , and at last become natural , and the throat of your conscience wide enough to swallow these gudgeons without straining , and in process of time a camel will not choak you , i have read of some and heard of one in our times that by little and little inured themselves to eat poison , and at last spiders , toads , and such like would serve them for food : some men at first feared an oath , but by little and little learnt to swear little oaths , or something like oaths at first , and afterwards the greatest would down without chewing , till they come to this , they scarce knew when they swore , it was so usual as in some distempers the excrements pass from them without their knowledg . joseph in pharaoh's court learnt to swear by the life of pharaoh : probably he would have scrupled it when under his fathers tuition . and is it any wonder if men learn worse words in a worse school ? many men amongst us have taken such a cursed habit of swearing and cursing , that if the law were duly executed , all their estates would not pay their mulcts ; they deal with christ as a kennel of hounds do with an hare , pluck him to pieces , wound and tear him , what in them lies , limb meal , neither his blood , nor his wounds , nor his head , nor his heart , nor any other part shall escape , and they even dare vengeance it self , to punish them ; like mad-dogs they bite and snatch at all , and would make all as mad as themselves , and is this company to be desired by a civil man , and in their quarrelling also and contentions , which is not unusual upon the ale-bench , they are like fire-brands ready to kindle one another , not only swearing and railing but also fighting , quarreling and murder it self is the effect of drunkenness , but perhaps you will say you are not guilty of swearing , cursing , quarrelling , and such like , but 't is almost impossible you should be otherwise ; how can you discourse them but in their own language , and i fear i have some grounds for my fear that you have lost some degrees of innocency , and cannot wash your hands from these transgressions : but suppose you are not actually guilty , are you not accessary to the oaths and curses which you do not reprove ? and that you do not reprove them is evident , by their delight in your company . can you hear the name of god blaspemed , his children abused , strict holiness which is gods image derided , and hold your peace ? and testify not your dislike , doubtless you make their sins your own by connivance ; were there true love to god , to his word , his ways , his image , his people , you would have something to say in their behalf , or break off society with gods deadly enemies , their sin will be laid at your door : can you hear your pot-valiant companions blaspheme god , and have nothing to say in his cause ? can an ingenious child here his father abused and hold his peace ? many in their cups are like the thracians when it thunders and lightens , they shoot up their arrows towards heaven , that by this means they may bring god to a more reasonable composition ; many when they cannot speak sense can speak bsasphemy , and when they cannot speak reason can speak treason , and can you wipe your mouth and say you have not offended ? and all this is nothing to you when it is daily done in your company , and are not you guilty of the many acts of drunkenness ? if not of your self , of others , when you drink and pledg their healths which is the devils shooinghorn , to draw on drunkards , yea perhaps force others to take a greater proportion of drink than they can bear , do you really think god gave his creatures to be thus abused ? read hab. 2. 14 , &c. wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink , and putteth the bottle to him , and maketh him drunk that he may look upon his nakedness , &c. if you do the work you are like to have the wages , many an health drunk on earth that will be pledged in hell , if you would not debauch your soul , and be guilty of these and other sins which are the usual fruits of this filthy vice , beware of it betimes . consid . 5. this sin of drunkenness among other flagitious crimes is a great promoter of that filthy sin of adultery , which lays a man open to the righteous judgments of the great god , whoremongers ond adulterers god will judg , heb. 13. 3. it was the judgment of some of the ancient fathers , and that not without reason , that a drunkard could not be chast , for he that breaks the hedg of gods law , what can hold him ? if a divine precept cannot restrain him , but for the love of a cup of drink he will be a transgressor ; who can think but if the devil mend his wages , he will mend his work ; or when a man or woman hath no more reason than a beast , why should they not act as beasts ? without distinctions of persons , here commonly are neither temptations , provocations , opportunities , nor importunities wanting , and if the fear of god be absent , and how can that he present where the wilful breach of his laws are daily acted , what can restrain them ? venter non habet aures . he that will break one command knowingly , what should restrain him from the breach of another , which nature doth every way as much incline men to ? that man or woman that is not abstinent , i cannot see any great grounds to believe they are continent ; lot in sodom though he doubtless had many provocations , and temptations to lust , and many examples of this nature , yet could withstand them , and his righteous soul was vexed with the unclean conversations of the wicked sodomites , 2 pet. 2. 7 , 8. but too much wine lost the reins of reason , and he became a brute , and committed incest with both his own daughters : had not david believed that wine was a provoker of lust , he never had tempted vriah with it to provoke him to go home to his wife to cover his adultery , rioting and drunkenness precedes chambering and wantonness , rom. 13. 13. the first evil ( saith ambrose ) of drunkenness is the hazzard of chastity , and truly those that will be perswaded to be drunk , i think 't is no great business to perswade them to adultery also , for as a filthy lake is full of froggs though no fish can live in it , so the drunkards heart is full of lust though no grace can thrive there . bacchus is the pander to venus , and wine is the fuel to heat the oven ; when the belly is full of wine the heart is full of lust : they are ( saith the prophet ) hot as an oven , hos . 7. 7. sine cerere & baccho friget venus . when the fuel is withdrawn the fire ceaseth . 't is solomon's council , prov. 23. 31 , &c. look not upon the wine when it is red , when it giveth its colour in the cup , when it moveth it self aright . ( and why so ? ) at the last it biteth like a serpent , and stingeth like an adder . ( why what is the event ? ) thine eyes shall behold strange women , and thy lips shall utter perverse things : this is the danger , this is the sting , venter aestuans ( saith jerome ) spumat in libidinem . drunkenness is the gallery that leads to letchery , vina parant animos venere , saith another . when men are heated with strong drink they are like to hot iron , the devil which is the smith with his hammer of temptation , may forge them into any shape ; they are then like wax softened , they will take any impression , they are then like paper , you may write what you will upon it , or make what blot you please , and the devil is apt to write his own name upon them , and to draw a conveyance to pass over their souls to him , jer. 5. 7 , 8 , 9. when i had fed them to the full they then committed adultery , and assembled themselves by heaps into harlots houses . they were as fed horses in the morning , every one neighing after his neighbours wife . shall not i visit for these things , saith the lord , and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this . that heat which is got in the tavern is oft cool'd in the brothel-house ; the blood heated by bacchus is cool'd by venus : chastity seldom sleeps in a drunkards bed , neither doth virtue lodg with so foul a swine . venus as 't is fabled was ingendred of the froth of the sea , and venery is produced by the fumes of strong drink . the devils office is not to quench fire but kindle it , he kindles the fire of lust by the fire of drunkenness , and the fire of hell with both ; experience proves this point , for since drunkenness came so much in fashion , adultery is not ashamed to shew its head ; when the one was driven into corners , the other was ashamed to be seen , but now men hang out rotten fruit in the sight of the sun , and declare their sin as sodom and hide it not ; men are not ashamed to be seen reeling in the street , vomiting in the market-place , or place of judicature , and with zimri to bring their whores to the tent door before the people , or with absolom spread a tent on the top of the house that all may take notice of it , but what will they do in the end thereof ? now they assemble themselves by troops in the harlots houses , but it will be bitter in the latter end . wicked men and seducers wax worse and worse , deceiving and being deceived : those that heretofore were ashamed to be seen in an alehouse , much more in a whore-house , now make it their glory ; they glory in their shame , and are ashamed of their glory ; that river of wickedness which at at first was fordable now overfloweth the banks , and knows no bottom . jer. 6. 15. were they ashamed when they had committed abomination , nay they were not at all ashamed , neither could they blush , therefore they shall fall among them that fall , &c. when sin creeps into corners there is some hopes it will not be charged upon the nation , but when it becomes brazen-faced , and braves authority it self , and sends chalenges to heaven 't is ripe for judgment : a beautiful harlot is one of the devils lime-twigs to catch fools , which he layes with great success , which brings much grist to his mill , and much advantage to his trade ; she like the cackatrice kills with her looks , but those that are deluded by her , shall one day wish they had been blind before they had seen her ; i cannot accuse all drunkards of whoredom , but of all men and women i should the most suspect them , for those that have thrown off the reins of reason , i know not what should rule them , those that break the cords of gods law i know not with what they should be tied , those that are false to god i know not what should make them true to a yoakfellow , those that fear not to blaspheme his name , abuse his creatures , undo their families , their wives and children , venture upon the wrath of god , the loss of the soul , the loss of heaven , and the pains of hell , and all for a little swinish pleasure in drink what should hinder them from adultery ? if they imagin it will bring them as much or more pleasure than it , what should keep them in awe ? not the law of god , not conscience of sin , not fear of hell , or hopes of heaven , for all these could not hold them before . solomon tells us , wine is a mocker , strong drink is raging , and he that is overtaken with it is not wise . prov. 20. 1. whordom , wine , and new wine take away the heart , hos . 4. 11. for a whore is a deep ditch , and a strange woman is a narrow pit : she also lieth in wait as for a prey , and increaseth the transgressors among men , prov. 23. 27 , 28. but there are some that affect the name of roaring boys , which without gods mercy will retain the name for ever . if god hath preserved you from this filthy vice , this soul-damning sin of adultery , bless god for it leads to the chambers of death , prov. 7. 27. the harlots house is the way to hell , going down to the chambers of death , 1 cor. 6. 9 , 10. and if you would be preserved from this sin , which will lead you as an ox to the slaughter , and as a fool to the correction of the stocks , prov , 7. 22 , take heed of this sin of drunkenness , which is the readiest road to it , fly from it as from the face of a serpent . consid . 6. this filthy nasty sin of drunkenness destroys the estate , ruins the family , beggars the posterity , and exposes them to want and poverty , and should you invent a way to ruin your self , and family , you can scarcely pitch upon any surer and more certain way than this is : scripture reason and daily experience prove this so evidently and fully , that it cannot be denied , he that loveth pleasure shail be a poor man , and he that loveth wine and oyl shall not be rich , prov. 23. 20 , 21. be not amongst wine-bibbers , amongst riotous eaters of flesh , for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty , and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags , and the experience of all ages , of all nations , of all cities , towns , countries , and villages , are undeniable arguments to prove this , and save me a labour to speak much of it , few but can evidence this truth by experience : how many ancient families in our times and in our neighbourhood , have by drunkenness been everted and overthrown ? nay , where do you see one that is much addicted to this vice , but there is a sensible decay in his estate ? perhaps there may be some that have large revenues coming in , left them by their predecessors , whose estates are not quickly perceived to moulder away , but doubtless there is a worm eating at the root of this goard , that in time will make it wither ; god will blow upon it , and a secret curse of god will dry up this their euphrates ; many have turned houses , livings , lordships , down their throats , and many of the great ones that have thousands per annum , cannot keep both ends together , and no wonder when gods laws are violated , that nothing they do prospers : there are many men ( as one saith ) drink god out of their hearts , health out of their bodies , wit out of their heads , and money out of their purses , the ale out of the barrels , wives and children out of doors , the land out of quiet , and plenty out of the nation , and when all is done they have nothing to shew for it but some buttery door buttons , a red firey measled pimpled nose and face , a diseased , dropsical , gouty , deformed body , and a leprous soul , and do procure such an insatiable thirst that can never be satisfied , the more they drink the more they may , as solomon saith , he that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver ; so he that loves strong drink will never think he hath enough , they drink not only the poors part , for which they shall be called e're long to a strict account , they being gods stewards , to give them their meat in due season , mat. 24. 45 , &c. but these gormundizing wretches devour also their childrens portion , even that which was left them by their predecessors , expose them to want and beggery , how many poor children had been better if they had never seen such parents ? how many wives and children lie weeping and wailing , and wringing their hands at home , not having bread to eat , or cloathing to put on , when their prodigal husbands , or fathers are merry enough amidst their cups , and queans , devouring that which should sustain them , but these will prove bitterness in the latter end , and god will make them vomit up those sweet morsels they so greedily swallowed ; see the doom of such offenders , matth. 24. 49 , &c. many a poor labourer that hath but from hand to mouth , and with his work can scarcely maintain his children with bread , yet is so addicted to this bewitching vice , or so won upon by cursed company , that oft-times he spends in a day what should maintain his family a week , and so expose them either to begging , stealing , or starving , and many spend that in youth , should maintain them when they are old , sell their estates , ruin themselves , and if the parish make not provision , either beg or steal , and oft end their dayes in prison or on the gallows . there are many that fear poverty more than hell , and think that the greatest argument against drunkenness , which yet is to be feared , are like to have the one in earnest of the other , for neither poverty , nor hell can make them leave this beastly sin ; god will give such something in hand , and the devil will pay them the rest of their wages , and those that keep such men company get a blot to their own souls , prov. 21. 17. noah got nothing amongst the luxurious old world , nor lot , in intemperat sodom . the prodigal spent his substance with riotous living , luk. 15. 13. and there are many prodigals in our age , there are many that like livius are their own executors , and may boast as they did that left their heirs nothing praeter coelum & coenum , the air to breath in , and the ground to tread upon . some drink the cloth off their backs , the money out of their purses , the beds whereon they lie , and the houses wherein they live . oh the bottomless gulf of a devouring throat ! which like the horseleech cries give , give , and can never be satisfied , or like hell that never saith it is enough ; these men fall oft-times from luxury to beggery , from beggery to thievery , and from thence to the halter ; from the tavern to tyburn , from the alehouse to the gallows : i need not give you examples of this kind , every place is full , yea too full , you cannot open your eyes but you must see them , and in them foresee what is like to be your condition , if you follow such courses ; like sins will bring like judgments . now therefore if you would avoid this certain mischief which unavoidably will follow this wicked vice , the ruin of your estate , the undoing of your wife and little children , exposing them to those miseries that want and beggery are attended with , if you would not undo your self , and your posterity , and bury your family in the ashes of ignominy : if you would keep your your self out of debt and danger , out of prisons and fetters ; if you would not procure the wrath of god , and force him to cut you off by some untimely death , or the curses of a ruined family ; if you would not procure the grief of your friends , and the scorn of your enemies , leave off these courses betime , and break off your sinful society , which are the cords of vanity with which the devil draws you on in his service , and by custom they will be cart-ropes to ty you faster to him , and lead you after him to hell it self . consid . 7. drunkenness unfits a man for any calling , place , or office in church or commonwealth , for any imployment , vocation , or business whatsoever , for any duty either to god or man , either to our general or particular calling , and consequently it renders a man an useless , unserviceable , unprofitable burthen of the earth , and like salt that hath lost its savour , thenceforth good for nothing but to be trodden under foot , or to be cast off ; or like a rotten member to be cut off and not cherished , lest it infect the other also . the ancient romans commanded such should be banished , lest by their ill example they should infect those that were sound : such as these have a plague-sore running upon them , and are not fit for human society ; they are leperous persons and ought not to come into the camp amongst the clean . whatever calling , whatever place , whatever office they are in ; they are still bringing dishonour to god , and grist to the devils mill , when they are put into the magistracy they do abundance of mischief . prov. 29. 2. when the righteous are in authority the people rejoyce , but when the wicked bear rule the people mourn , these men make sad the hearts of those whom the lord would not have made sad , and strengthen the hands of the wicked : for how can they execute judgment and justice when they themselves are void of reason , or how can they punish offenders , when they themselves are chief in the transgression ? or , how can they take gods part when they themselves are his sworn enemies ? or hinder the devils work which they design to promote ? prov. 31. 4. it is not for kings o lemuel to drink wine , nor princes strong drink , lest they drink and forget the law , and pervert the judgment of the afflicted . many crack their brains with drinking , as swine do their bellies , and are thenceforth good for nothing . but men are but so much the worse , by how much the better they should be : it was said of bonosus the emperour , that he was born , non ut vivat sed ut bibat , not to live but to drink , and when he was overcome in drinking by probus , he hanged himself , and it was said of him , there hangs a tankard , not a man. eph. 5. 18 , be not drunk with wine wherein is excess , but be ye filled with the spirit , intimating all excessive drinking is downright drunkenness ; those that rule according to law , should live according to law , otherwise they throw down with the one hand what they build with the other , and do more hurt by their example than they do good by their office : did you ever see a swearer , drunkard , or debaucht fellow , stockt , whipt , or punished by a drunken magistrate ? if the devil can get such into office , he need not fear but his work will be done : and as he is unfit for the magistracy , so for the ministry , and much more unfit ; if he be not a fit guide for the body , much less for the soul , they stray themselves and therefore are unfit to be others guides . isa . 28. 7. they have erred through wine , and through strong drink are gone out of the way , the priests and the prophets have erred through strong drink , they are swallowed up of wine . hos . 4. 11. whoredom , wine , and new wine take away the heart . one lust calls upon another , as one souldier doth upon another in fighting , or as those did , 2 king. 3. 23. now therefore moab to the spoil . solomon joineth giving the heart to wine , and giving it to folly both together , eccles . 2. 3. and commonly those that serve one of these masters , serve the other also ; and this is thought by some to be the beginning of solomons apostacy . drunkenness in a minister , is no less unseemly than in a magistrate , and 't is severely forbidden in both ; god absolutely forbids any priest to drink wine , or strong drink in their approaches , and addresses unto him , lev. 10. 9. ezek. 44. 21. there are none more affected than such as those that will be drunk with them for company , if they will , saith god , prophesy of wine and strong drink these shall be the prophets for them , mic. 2. 11. yea god complains of such , isa . 56. 12. come say they , we will fetch wine , and we will fill our selves with strong drink , and to morrow shall be as this day , and much more abundant . esa . 56. 12. but a wo is pronounced against such , isa . 28. 1. wo unto the crown of pride , to the drunkards of ephraim , and christ gives his disciples a caution , and doubtless not without need , and if they needed who doth not ? luke 21. 34. take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness , and the cares of this world , and that day come upon you at unawares . the best of us have corruptions within , which if watered with temptations without , will produce this as well as other sins . tit. 1. 7. a bishop must be blameless , the steward of god , not selfwilled , not soon angry , not given to wine , &c. and indeed how is that man fit to rule the church that cannot rule his own family , nay his own appetite ? or can he be a guide , that goes himself so far out of the way ? or how can any man void of reason rule his children , servants , or any under his charge , when he is made a beast and drink rules him ? nay , what calling is that man fit for in this condition ? for in every calling there is some labour or some care , or some thing or other requisit , which a drunken man is unfit for . now if the devil can get such as these in office , especially in the magistracy or ministry , ( and he will do it if his own wit , or his instruments interest can do it ) what a deal of service do they do him ? court fashions spread themselves over the countrey ; what an influence had the kings of israel and judah over the people , as they were wicked , or as they were good , so reformation , or deformation was promoted : when rulers themselves are wicked they are a shelter to impiety , and terror to good works : yea , what duty either to god or man , is a drunkard fit for ? what can he do ? can he pray ? alas he cannot speak ! or at least speak sence or reason , and suppose he could , how loathsom do you think such a prayer would be to god , that is performed , that is accompanied with belching and vomiting ? what will he pray for ? for the pardon of that sin he never intends to leave , and for those graces he never intends to act or exercise , or can he hear , or read , or meditate ? alas his condition suffers it not ! his heart is made sick with bottles of wine , hos . 7. 5. the like we may say of any duty , or office to god or man , or any imployment for his own good , and the good of others ; therefore i may well say of him , he is an unuseful and unprofitable creature , good for nothing but to do just like pharaohs lean kine , that eat up the fat ones ; they devour what should keep others ; if therefore now you would not be disabled , for any business , for your self or others , for any calling or business , for any imployment in the commonwealth ; nay , for any duty to god or man , in your general or particular calling , if you would not be rendered useless , worthless , and unprofitable , if you would not live meerly like a drone , good for nothing but to devour , to fill and empty , if you would not live undesired , and die unlamented , take heed of this swinish sin which will certainly thus render you useless . consid . 8. as drunkenness unfits a man to live , so it unfits a man to die , and wo to that man that is neither fit to live nor to die , and yet oft-times it hastens his death , and puts a period to his life ; and unhappy is that man whom the world is weary of ; and heaven disclames . what is said of the bloody and deceitful men , may well be said of the drunkard , he doth not live out half his days . many of our gallants , or roaring-boys , ( as they stile themselves ) are cut off in the flower of their age , in the prime of their youth , while their bones are full of marrow , and when they end their roaring on earth , it is to be feared they sing the second part in hell : many by drinking other mens healths lose their own , yea oft-times life and all ; a hellish custom hatched there , invented by the devil as a shooinghorn to drunkenness , and excess , and as some of the fathers write , a custom derived from the pagans and infidels to us , and was in use amongst them , and was a drink-offering sacrificed on their knees to their dunghil-deities , to the devil himself , as part of that service , homage , worship , devotion , fealty they paid to him : and the devils seem unwilling that this ceremony should be left off , or any circumstance thereunto belonging , it must be upon their knees , and sometimes attended with the breaking of the glasses , burning of their hats , coats , or other garments , &c. what prodigious madness , hellish folly is this ? and to make the sacrifice compleat , it must be powdered or salted with horrid blasphemies , damnings , and rammings , as if they had been in hell to learn the the exact language of the devil and the damned ; and t is to be feared , that many drink healths of damnation here , that they shall be pledging in hell to all eternity : for god is more dishonoured , the creatures more abused , and devoured , the devil more obeyed , served , and adored by this , than almost any other sin. their healths are oft-times made to great men , whom they adore , making gods of them , and beasts of themselves ; and hence many times grow quarrels , strifes , debates , fightings , stabbings , and death it self : yea , i suppose there are more drunken quarrels occasioned by their healths than by any other thing whatsoever , ( whores excepted : ) sometimes they chalenge the field , sometimes they give each other the lye , and the stab , and oft-times comes to bloodshed ; for when the drink is in the wit is out , and the greatest friends in a moment prove the greatest enemies , and those that even now professed the greatest amity , suddenly shew the greatest enmity , and sheath their swords in each others bowels , as we read , alexander in his drink killed his dear friend clit us , only for disallowing his profuse healths , and had he been suffered would afterwards have killed himself ; and it was not long before he and thirty five more of his consorts killed themselves by immoderate drinking at one time , and forty of his companions at another . but we need not look far for examples , our own age , our own nation , our own neighbourhood yields us too many : how many of our gallants , and youthful gentlemen , within a few years , and a few miles have caught their death by their excessive drinking , and died of surfeits : almost every parish , town , and hamlet , may afford examples of some that have come to an untimely end this way , either in their drink killing one another , and so come to the gallows , or breaking their necks , drowning , burning , scalding , and some such accident , or by surfets , feavors , gouts , dropsies , or some dangerous uncurable disease gotten this way , which puts a period to their lives , and drinking : or that by this means run into misery , danger , debt , poverty , and dye on a dunghil , in a barn , &c. for want of sustenance ; or end their days in prison : these and such like are the fruits and effects of this filthy sin ; this sin is as one calls it , a flattering devil , a sweet poison , the bane of virtue , the mother of vice , voluntary madness , the author of quarrels , contentions , strife , and debate . the drunkard's heart is a fit receptacle for all vice , for as frogs live and thrive in a filthy lake , a stinking ditch where no fish can abide , so vices are nourished here , but no virtue can live but is poisoned . when the old world could not overcome noah , this filthy sin did ; this sets it self against the law of god , of grace , of nature , and of nations , 't is the grief of friends , the scorn of enemies , the ruin of families ; it opens hell , and shuts heaven gates against us . the soul where this filthy pestiferous weed grows , is like that which was sowed with salt , it became baren to every thing that was good . the graces of the spirit of god cannot abide to dwell in such a nasty house , or to lodg with such a filthy bedfellow , for as smoke drives away bees , so drunkenness drives away the spirit of god , all holy desires , and good resolutions , and quencheth all holy motions , and is as water to the fire , extinguishing all hopeful beginnings , 't is like the mare mortuum wherein no good fish can live ; and therefore if you would not be accessary to your own death , both of body and soul , if you will not run the hazard of a sudden or violent , or untimely death , or fil your bodies with surfets , feavors , gouts , dropsies , &c. by intemperance ; take heed in time of this filthy sin for these are the natural products of it , and god doth usually witness against it by such judgments as these . consid . 9. consider the horrible judgments which god the righteous judg hath brought upon offenders in this kind . in the time of the law as we may see , deut. 21. 18 , 19 , 20. god commanded , if a father had a son that was a glutton or a drunkard , and upon reproof and correction would not amend , the father of that son should bring him out to the elders of the city , and they should stone him : now if magistrates are negligent of their duty , and will not punish this sin according to its , demerits and if the ecclesiastical courts take little notice of it , then god is forced to take the sword in his own hand , and cut off the putrified member , and though he be slow , yet many times he strikes home , nay he doth not spare his own people , yet he lets them blood as a physician , not as an executioner . as for the other , though he reserves many till the general assizes , to have their doom , yet some he hangs up in chains , that others may hear , and fear , and do no more so wickedly . noah though a good man , and escaping the pollutions of the old world , was after tainted with this sin ; god suffered him to uncover his nakedness , and to be a laughingstock to his own son , who by this means entailed the curse to him and his posterity , and the generation then to come had cause to bewail the act . righteous lot , whose righteous soul was vexed with the unclean conversation of the wicked sodomites , fell through this sin to that of incest , for this seldom goes alone , and became the father of the moabites and ammonites , two cursed generations , haters of god and his people , which had he lived to see would have been a further trouble to him . my intention is not in reciting these examples , to rank them amongst drunkards , or confer that odious name upon them ; for 't is not our bare simple act deserves , or can fasten such an imputation upon them ; a godly man by the subtilty of satan's temptations , and the prevalency of corruptions , or inadvertency , not knowing the nature of wine ( as it may be imagined of noah , if not of the other ) may fall in the sin , but there is difference between a sheep falling in a foul way , which riseth again , shakes himself , and takes better heed , and a swine that wittingly , willingly and delightfully wallows in the mire : a godly man through imprudence , or want of heed may have a fall , and lose some degrees of innocency which is great cause of shame and sorrow , but those that make it their trade and daily practice , best deserve the name . but gods dealing with others is more severe , elah the king of israel drinking himself drunk in his steward's house , was killed by zimri his own servant , a sad death , especially at such a time when he was most unfit to dye ; the like had befallen nabal in his drunkenness , had not wise abigail prevented it , and when he heard the danger he was in , his heart became as a stone within him , and he died , 1 sam. 25. 36 , &c. amnon one of holy davids ungracious sons , who before had ravished his sister tamar , and when his heart was merry with wine , was slain by the command of his brother absalon , 2 sam. 13. 28. benhadad and the thirty two kings that were with him being all drunk , a sad example to their servants , had his mighty army defeated by a handful of ahabs men , and hardly escaped with his life . belshazzer carousing wine with his wives and concubines in the vessels of the temple , had the hand-writing sent by god upon the wall , which foretold his ruin and destruction , which suddenly fell out accordingly . holofernes in his drink was killed by judeth , and should we examine the records of all ages , you may find god's terrible hand stretched out against men of this profession ; some have grown so audacious as to drink healths to the devil himself , such a beast , or rather monster was pope john the twelfth , or as some reckon the thirteenth . a lincolnshire man drinking a health to the devil fell down dead in the place ; three more in germany for the like offence were all found dead the next morning . in almain in the year 1580 , one drinking a health to god , stretching his hand towards heaven , with a cup of wine , was dead in that posture , neither by strength could be removed , the other by the people was hanged on gibbets before the door . i have heard also of some struck suddenly dead in the very act , some drowned , some scalded to death , some choaked with the drink , some broke their necks , some lying in the way were slain by carts , some in their drink murthered their parents , many that have caught surfets and died upon them , he that would read more examples of this nature , may find them in beard 's theatre of gods judgments , and in mr. clearks treatise upon the same subject , but the experience of our own times may spare us that labour ; for who is so great a stranger in the neighbourhood he lives in , but may add examples of this nature ? how oft do we hear and see men struck dead in the very act , or suddenly after with surfeits , or otherwise were it but convenient , the time , the place , the persons names might be produced ; and no man of discretion that takes any notice of gods dealings in the world , but may add some experience which shews gods hatred of this detestable vice , for i think he hath not more eminently appeared against any sin except it be against atheism , blasphemy , adultery , or persecution of the power of godliness , than against this ; if therefore you would not be guilty of your own death , and become the object of gods infinite hatred , and dreadful judgments : if you would not run violently upon your own destruction , and force god to cut you off as an unprofitable unuseful member , beware of this sin , for doubtless 't is the ready way to temporal and eternal death ; and if death arrest you by such a sergeant as this , your case is lamentable . consid . 10. but the greatest danger is yet behind , and that is the loss of the soul , which is ten thousand times greater than the loss of life , skin for skin , and all that a man hath will he give for his life ; yet the soul is in more danger than it , and where this sin is predominant , 't is a sad sign of an ungracious heart , and that the wrath of god hangs over their heads , god pronounceth wo to such , and who then can speak peace , wo to the crown of pride the drunkards of ephraim : wo to those that rise early to drink strong drink , and continue till night , till wine enflame them . wo to those that are mighty to drink wine , and men of strength to mingle strong drink . wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink , and putteth the bottle to him , and maketh him drunk . doth god speak in earnest or in jest ? or can he , or will he make good his threatnings ? if so , what a woful condition are drunkards in ? 't is for this sin that hell hath enlarged her self , and opened her mouth without measure , isa . 5. 14. these are the men whose end is destruction , whose god is their belly , whose glory is their shame , who mind earthly things , phil. 3. 19. they sacrifice to nothing else but the creature , thus saith the lord to such , drink and be drunken , and spew , and fall and never rise again , this is spoken to those that make it their business to drink , and make others drunk also , jer. 25. 27. these are plying the devils work , and he is preparing them their wages , which he will pay them at the day . those that now so profusely spend and wast gods good creatures given by him for an higher end , the time is coming , and will not be long , if repentance prevent not , they will not be able to purchase one drop of water to cool their tongues : remember this all ye that forget god lest he tear you in pieces when there is none to deliver . without repentance hell will be your portion , and the place of your habitation , and endless , easeless , and remediless torments are the wages which the devil pays to his miserable servants , for their most faithful service : see the doom of your elder brother , matth. 24. 49. &c. that neglecting the duty god required at his hands , to give his fellow-servants meat in due season , and doing the work the devil enjoyned him , in beating them , and eating and drinking with the drunkards , he was cut in sunder , and his portion appointed him with hypocrites ; and that unfaithful unprofitable servant , that hid his talent in the earth was cast out into utter darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth , matth. 25. 30. and if only those shall have the sentence of absolution at the last day , that have fed the hungry , clothed the naked , relieved the stranger , &c. mat. 25. 34 , &c. what will become of you that spend the poor's part , yea and pluck the very meat from the mouths of your wives and children , and make many others want meat by your extravagancies : you know not but some may this day be in hell , tormented in those flames , for those very sins which you occasioned them to commit and no doubt many more will be , which may be a sad reflexion upon your own heart . if god should give you repentance , this may be a corasive to you , you help to destroy men , but cannot give repentance ; but if you repent not , the blood of their souls will be required at your hand ; and did you know the price of this blood you would beware . the time is coming a separation will be made between the precious and the vile ; and though the wheat and the tares grow together , ere long they shall be separated ; the wheat shall be gathered into barns , but the tares shall be bundled up ; swearers with swearers and drunkards with drunkards , and burnt with unquenchable fire . drunkenness is compared by some to chain-shot , it sends men to hell by clusters ; some other sins to single bullets , that kills but one at once . there are many that have knowledge enough in other things , and yet know not the way to heaven ; they can search natures garden from end to end , but cannot search their own hearts : they are well skill'd abroad , strangers at home . they are like the lamiae , a sort of witches that were blind at home , quick-sighted abroad . they are skilled in all courts but the court of conscience , but let them have never so much knowledge , they are really fools , to sell their souls to satan for so low a value as a belly-full of ale. they are worse than esau , that sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage ; or a king i have read of , that lost his kingdom for a draught of water . can we imagine those are christians , that cannot deny themselves in a cup of drink , when they have enough before . the first lesson in christs school is self-denial , and if we deny not , forsake not father , mother , wife , and children , yea hate all and our own lives , we cannot be his disciple . can those men lay down their lives for christ , that cannot deny their sensual appetite ? was it ever known that a debaucht drunkard ever suffered for him ? as drink increaseth their thirst , and the more they drink the more they may ; so drunkenness increaseth hell-fire like oyl , which will never be quenched . the wages of sin is death , but the gift of god is eternal life ; rom. 6. 23. nay god tells us as plain as he can speak , that a drunkard shall not go to heaven , 1 cor. 6. 9 , 10. know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of god ; be not deceived , neither fornicators , nor idolaters , nor adulterers , nor effeminate , nor abusers of themselves with mankind , nor thieves , nor covetous , nor drunkards ; nor revilers , nor extortioners , shall inherit the kingdom of god. gal. 10. 19 , 20 , 21. now the works of the flesh are manifest , which are these , adultery , fornication , vncleanness , lasciviousness , idolatry , witchcraft , hatred , variance , emulation , wrath , strife , sedition , heresie , envying , murther , drunkenness , revilings , and such like ; of the which i tell you before , as i have also told you in times past , that they which do such things , shall not inherit the kingdom of god. and i fear that most drunkards are guilty of many of these : what now can you say for your selves , why this is not your portion ? do you think god is not just , will he speak one thing and do another ; or is he not able to do as he saith ; and that you shall go to heaven notwithstanding ? see what god saith to such , deut. 29. 19 , &c. he that heareth the words of this curse , and blesseth himself in his heart , saying , i shall have peace though i walk in the stubborness of my heart , adding drunkenness to thirst , the anger of the lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man ; and all the curses that are written in this book shall lite upon him ; and god shall blot out his name from under heaven . however great offenders in this life may escape temporal judgments , yet spiritual judgments , which are far more dangerous , seize upon them ; blindness of mind , hardness of heart , searedness of conscience , a reprobate sense , strong delusions , &c. and eternal judgments dog them at the heels ; the devil that now sets them on work , takes notice of their work , that he may not be behind with them with their wages : but what this wages is , the tongue of men nor angels cannot fully describe ; for though the torments themselves are exquisite , yet the duration is an aggravation : though the pain of loss be inexpressible , and the pain of sense be insupportable , yet eternity is unimaginable ; and though the pain of sense be ten thousand times beyond our conceiving , yet the perpetuity of it will be the greatest torment ; and the word never will be a hell in the midst of hell. if the drunkard were to suffer but a thousand years in hell , for every cup of drink he hath drunk above measure ( and this would be dear-bought pleasure ) yet were there hopes an end would come : ah! but what is this to eternity ? oh eternity , eternity , how shall we conceive of thee , how shall we number thee ? if this be the drunkards portion , we may well say as the holy ghost doth , woe to them . job . 10. 50. if i be wicked woe to me . if the aking of the head , saith one , came before the drinking of the wine , which usually follows it , there would be few drunkards . but i think we may well say , if but one hour the pains of hell were felt by them , it would make them sober all their life . if now you would not lose the use of reason , and be transformed into a beast , if you would not bring upon your body deformities without , and infirmities within , if you would not bring reproaches upon your self , and bury your good name in obloquy , if you would not debauch your soul and incline it to all manner of wickedness ; if you would be preserved from that filthy sin of adultery , to which this inclines you ; if you would not waste your estate , ruin your family , undo your wife and children , and bring them to beggery ; if you would not unfit your self for any calling and employment , or any duty to god or man ; if you would not by intemperance hasten your own death , and set a period to your life ; if you would not bring the horrible judgments of god upon you , and force him to cut you off in the midst of your days ; and if you would not lose your soul , and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire ; take heed of this filthy , beastly sin of drunkenness , which carries all those evils and many more in the belly of it . thus you see what charge i have drawn up against this sin of drunkenness , and much more may be said ; for 't is a fearful mother , and most sins are bred in the womb of it , or fed or fostered by it ; for in sin almost nothing can be named but drunkenness doth patronize it , and excites men to the practice of it : i do not hereby intend or mean that all that are addicted to it , are guilty of all other villany ; some perhaps never blasphemed or murthered , yet this in others is the cause of blasphemy and murther ; neither do i mean that all that ever were overtaken with drink , that they are thus to be tearmed : a godly man may have his slips , though this is rare ; but there is a difference between a sheep and a swine , as i said ; the one falls into the mire unwillingly , the other wallows in it ; so here some are surprized unawares as 't is conceived noah was . these by repentance wash away their spot , and others seek occasions , and are not well till they find them . and now though i have done with drunkenness in the general , yet have i not done with you in particular , for i conceive your sin admits of many aggravations , which some other mens sins do not ; and that is worse in you then in them : some of those i shall draw up against you , that if possible i may shame you out of it ; for though this sin by some is compared to hell ; few fall into it that recover ; and by some to the gout incurable ; yet i having known some have recovered , i am not out of hope . the aggravations are these : aggra . 1. consider your education , which was civil , nay , not only civil but religious , you are extracted from those that were ancicient professors , trained up in family duties , prayer and praise ; the word of god was read in the family , and many a prayer put up with you and for you , you were dedicated to god in your baptismal vow , which since you owned and were listed into his company ; and shall all this be lost upon you : it had been better then for you that you had had turks or pagans for your parents . many an exhortation and loving admonition you have had ; the danger of sinful courses you have been told ; you have had examples and presidents of a holy life before you , and some of the contrary , and you have seen the difference : the family you live in , hath been a house of prayer ; and will you now make it a cage of unclean birds ? you have been warn'd of the devils temptations , and the worlds allurements ; you have seen the difference between those that have resisted them , and those that yielded to them . consider in whether of their cases you would rather be when death calls you ; and whether a day spen in prayer , or a day spent in an ale-house , wil then bring most comfort ; you have lived under the powerful means of grace all your days , and heard thousands of sermons , besides other ordinances , and are all those lost : remember what christ saith of chorazin and bethsaida , and capernaum ; it shall be more tollerable for tire and sidon , or sodom and gomorrah in the day of judgment , than for them . a fruitless tree in the vineyard , is more in danger than if it grew in the desert : others may say i never knew the danger of such a course , my parents rather incouraged me then otherwise ; but what can you say , or what excuse can you make . aggra . 2. the many convictions which you had upon your spirit , will witness against you that yours is not a sin of ignorance , but against knowledge and conscience , and those sins as they make the greatest gashes in the soul , so they will make the greatest noise in the conscience ; those that sin ignorantly are to be pittied , but those that sin wilfully deserve to be punished : he that know not his masters will , and doth things worthy of stripes , shall be beaten with few stripes ; but he that knows his masters will and doth it not , shall be beaten with many . some ignorant souls may perswade themselves that drinking and swilling is the chiefest happiness , but i dare appeal to your consciences in cool blood , whether you do not know to the contrary ; you have been better instructed , and and doubtless have felt a better rellish in something else ; god hath sent you into his vineyard to work , and will you leave your work before the evening , when the time of receiving your wages comes ; you have been planted in the vineyard , hedg'd about with gods providence , watered with the dew of heaven , and he hath expected fruit year by year , and will you still be barren , or worse than barren ; will you bring forth wild grapes , grapes of sodom , whose clusters are bitter ; what could he have done for his vineyard that he hath not done for us ? well ere long he will pluck up his hedg , and take away his fence ; he will lay by his basket and take up his axe ; he will bid cut him down , why cumbreth he the ground . lucifers punishment shall be greater , because he was an angel ; and julians , because he was a christian ; and judas , because he was a disciple ; and capernaum , corazin , and bethsaida , because they enjoyed the means which others wanted . if you have knowledge in the head and not grace in the heart , you will carry your own mittimus to prison with you ; or like vriah , letters to cut your own throat : you sin with a candle in your hand , when others ignorance may excuse them , a tanto , though not a toto : your knowledge will encrease your guilt and heighten your torments . aggra . 3. nay , you your self have made a profession of religion and owned your baptismal vow ; you have held out a lamp in your hand , but 't is to be feared have no oyl in your vessel , the want of which now makes your lamp shine so dim , and you to walk in darkness ; you performed many duties , and put up many prayers , and made many promises to god and man of your reformation . oh let it not be to tell the world how far a hipocrite may go and fall short of heaven ; and let them know , whatever you said you meant nothing less : with what face can you ever call god father , or ever beg for mercy at his hands , thus to use him ; or beg power against sin , when you mind nothing less than a reformation . are you inded willing to lose all the pains that ere you have taken in heavens way , now you have born the burthen and heat of the day , and for ought you know , the time of your receiving reward is at hand . many a day and many an hour you have spent in prayer , humiliation , hearing , reading , christian conference , meditation and such like duties ; and will you now out-run and lose them all : shall all your petitions be lost , as foolish boys lose their arrows , shoot them , and then mind them no more : if a righteous man turn from his righteousness , he shall die in his sin ; ezek. 3. 20. all his righteousness , shall not be remembred . is the way of holiness too severe , or will heaven be had upon easier terms ; or were the godly from the beginning of the world all deceived , which took holiness to be the only way to happiness ; and is there a nearer way found out than they dreamed of ; and was christ himself deceived that told us the way was narrow , and the gate strait that led to life , and few there be that find it ; or was the holy ghost mistaken when he said , drunkards , whoremasters , swearers , &c. should never enter heaven : or can you imagine you may dance with the devil all day , and sup with christ at night ; or do the devils work and receive christs wages ; or are you willing to take up with the hypocrites a portion ; or do you love your company so well , that you will go to hell for company : you carry your own condemnation with you . if religion be not good , why did you profess it ; if it be , why do you not practice it ? or doth religion teach you such courses ? i know some will be apt to charge religion with it from your practice ; and say , see what your professors are , they will be drunk as well as others ; but the apostle tells us , titus 2. 12. that the grace of god , that bringeth salvation , teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts , and to live soberly , righteously , and godly in this present world . have you found out a better master , better work , and better wages , 't is well ; but praise in the parting . the world hates you because of your profession , and will you make god hate you for your hypocrisie ? would you reconcile god and the world , it will never be ; or would you have your good things both here and hereafter ? you will find the mistake , you must renounce the one or the other ; heaven will not be had in a vicious course of life . aggra . 4. this course of life in you , that have been a professor of religion , is exceeding injurious both to god and man ; if you never had pretended better , none would have expected better at your hands : but to be wounded in the house of our friend , to have one with whom we took sweet counsel together , and walked to the house of god in company ; he lift up the heel against us : this would trouble a david himself . the former hopes you gave us , the noise you made in the world of more than ordinary sanctity , is an aggravation to your crime : the higher men clime , the greater will be their fall . how doth this make sad the hearts of those that the lord would not make sad , and strengthen the hands of the wicked . if israel play the harlot , saith god , yet let not judah offend ; you did run well , who hindred you , you began well and you end ill ; you began in the spirit , and will you end in the flesh : what a blow will this be to religion , when the chief prop in such a family shall not only break , but like an egyptian reed , run into our hands . what a discouragement is it to an army , when a chief champion not only turns his back , but revolts to the enemy ? what a dishonour is this to god , to leave his service and serve his greatest enemy . how will the enemy in sult , lo ( saith they ) you see what a master they serve , for all their brags , they are soon weary of his service . davids sin caused gods enemies to blaspheme , and for that cause god told him the sword should never depart from his house . how doth this sadden the hearts of the godly , and fill their faces with shame ? how is religion loaded with aspersions , as if there were no real difference between the godly and the wicked ? these , say they are your professors , they 'll take their cups as well as others . poor doubting christians are discouraged , and think they shall never hold out , when such cedars are shaken , and such champions foiled . others are incouraged in their sin , and are apt to say , let them have their fling , they will come bank again to us ere long . what account will you give of this to god at last , what iniquity have you found in him , that you are departed from him ? is there any thing in religion that causeth you to forsake it , or hath god ever given you any cause ? testifie against him , hath he been a barren wilderness to you ? is there more real worth in your pot companions , which have wrought your ruine if god prevent not , both of body and soul ; than is in the communion of saints ? and had you rather be hearing swearing , cursing , and blaspheming than prayers , or praises unto god ? consider the blood of your own soul , and the soul of your children and servants , that are like to be undone by your example ; and of many others that are either hardned in their sins , or discouraged in their duties , will be laid at your door : consider the price of this blood , before you are too lavish of it ; one soul is worth a world , and do not sell it for pots of ale. aggra . 5. the many covenants , promises , vows , and ingagements , which you have made to god for better obedience , and the many promises and ingagements which you have made to ministers and other christians , and which you have so often broke , are no small aggravation to your sin ; so that you cannot commit this sin at so cheap a rate as some others may : 't is better not to vow , then to vow and not preform . in your baptismal vow , which you have since owned and ratified , you were dedicated up to god , and devoted to his service ; and 't is sacriledge to divert things dedicated up to god to profane uses : you then received press-money , and listed your self into christs company , and promised to fight under his banner ; and that his enemies should be your enemies , and you would maintain war while you lived against sin , the world , and the devil ; and he promised , you so doing , you should have what ever was necessary here , and heaven it self for a reward ; and to this covenant you have often set your other seal in the sacrament , and will you after all these vows and covenants to god , and promises to men , treacherously and perfidiously revolt , change sides , and joyn with the devil , gods sworn enemy ; and that to fight against him , his cause and people , and the power of godliness , which you did profess . what cause hath god given you to do thus ? testifie against him , was he ever worse than his word to you , nay , he was before-ahand with his promise ; he gave you a better portition in the world than thousands of your brethren ; you may eat the fat , and drink the sweet , when others must moil and toil and cark and care , and all little enough to prevent poverty : all that you have is from him ; he gave you limbs , when others are lame ; sight , when others are blind ; health , when others are sick ; liberty , when others are imprisoned ; you have the use of reason . , when others run raging in the streets ; yea , you have your life and breath and all from him , and how dare you then provoke him ; you have not only mercies for this life , but for the life to come offered also ; the means of grace , the tenders of mercy , christ and heaven , and glory ; and for which of all these good things do you hate god , and leave his service ? can the devil or your pot-companions better reward you ? can they defend you from the dreadful judgments of a sin revenging god ; can they secure you under the shadow of their wings ? if not , how dare you provoke this god ? are you stronger than he , if not , why do you take up weapons of defence against him ? was there ever any hardened himself against god and prospered ? god will avenge the quarrel of his covenant ; and where are you then ? do you know what it is to be an enemy unto god , or to have god to be an enemy unto you ; if you did , it might send you trembling to your grave ; if you are his enemy , and his enemy you are while you serve the devil , for his servants you are to whom you obey ; you may expect he should deal with you as with an enemy , and then what evr judgments you have heard , or read of , either threatned against , or executed upon any graceless wretch ; you are not sure but , nay , you may expect that it may be your portion : and how ever , he may suffer you here to fill up the measure of your iniquity , yet he will pay you home , full measure and running over . 't is better for you to have all the men on earth , and all the devils in hell against you than god ; you are but a worm , and if he tread upon you , he leaves you dead behind him ; if he with-hold your breath , you return to the dust , and all your thoughts perish ; there is no strugling out of his hand : wo to him that striveth with his master , let the potsheard strive with the potsheard of the earth , isaiah 45. 9. you can get nothing by this contention . aggra . 6. this carriage and demeaning of yours , how ever it may for a time seem pleasing to your self , is yet offensive to god , father , son , and holy ghost , and 't is the grief of all good men that know it ; to your friends and relations , and all that fear god : that god takes it to heart , you may find by his often complaint of and expostalations with the children of israel in their revolts ; you may find in three parables in luke 15. of the lost sheep , the lost groat , and the prodigal son. it was he that lost the sheep , and seeks till he finds it , and then receiveth ; he is the father of the prodigal son , and his prodigality was his trouble ; as may easily appear by his rejoycing at his return : yea , christ tells us there is joy in the presence of the angels , when a sinner returneth ; and if there could be sorrow in heaven , sure it would be at their revolting back : the resisting the motions of gods spirit , is called a grieving of , or a quenching of it ; and if each saint have his guardian angel , as some imagine , and it may seem probable ; for they are guarded by the angels : we may imagine they rejoyce when we do well , and as far as they are capable , are troubled at our falls and slips : and what sorrow and sadness , also must this be to your relations , put your self into their condition ; how sad would it be to you , to have a child , the only hope of the family , to ruin himself and his posterity ; to have a young fellow take such extravagant courses , to have a brother or a sister thus debaucht ; what grief is it to a godly minister , that travelled in birth till he thought christ had been formed in you , and then suddenly see all his hopes dasht , all his exhortations , admonitions , reproofs , prayers , &c. lost upon you ; how may it trouble and shame him that ever you were of his society : your christian friends , and those of your society , how may it trouble them , that you are gone from them , and with demas have chosen the world before christ ; to think what will become of you , and of your family , and of your poor soul , when death shall seperate it from your body , and where you will stop that are running down the hill so fast , and whether of a professor you may not as others have done , turn persecutor ; for those that forsake god , no wonder if they forsake their friends also , and those that hate god will hate his image also . i wish this be no more than my own surmise and fears : in a word , there are none that carry the face of honest men , but will be troubled at this your apostacy ; and there are none but the devil and his instruments , your pot-companions and brethren in iniquity , that will rejoyce that you are brought back again into the devils slavery : these are the dalilah's that hugg you in their bosome while they betray you ; these are the syrens , that by their song intend to wrack and ruin you : and if you think this is your only way to happiness , ere long you will find your mistake and your judgment will alter . aggra . 7. in this course of life you lead , the loss of your precious time which is given you for an higher end , is no small aggravation to your fall ; for though you meet with other considerable losses by this extravagant course of yours , yet no temporal loss is comparable to this : this cannot be redeemed with silver nor gold , jems , nor jewels ; nay if the world were sold to its worth , it could not call back one day that is past ; and yet alass how prodigal are many of their time , as if they knew not how to waste it fast enough ; they drink and play and rail it away ; nay go purposely to drive away time : that did they but know the value of it , would prize it at a higher rate ; but the time is coming you will know the worth of it by the want of it . god hath placed you in his vineyard , given you work to do , and sufficient time to do it in ; if you idle away this time , and your work be undone , what wages do you expect : amongst other talents he hath given you this talent of time ; if either you not use it or abuse it , what can you expect but the doom of the unprofitable servant that hid his talent in the earth . you have a little time in the world to spend , and 't is but a little ; and one of these days they will say of you , he is dead also ; for you see younger and stronger are gone before you , and your turn may be next ; how as you spend this time , so it will fare with you to eternity . this is the harvest of the soul , if you lay not in provision for the winter with the bee , you are like to want with the grasshopper : this is the market day to lay in provision for the following week , and to buy oyl ; if this season be let slip , the door will be shut against you , and we know not how soon this day may be over , which will never dawn again : you have a great deal of work to do , and work of great concernment ; if it be not finished in the time , you are undone ; you are in a race , and your soul is the prize you run for ; and will you either stand still or run back : you are in the field fighting with cruel blood-thirsty enemies , who will make no truce with you but upon more unreasonable terms than nahash the ammonite offered to the men of jabesh gilead , which was to thrust out all their right eyes , and lay it as a reproach on all israel , 1 sam. 11. 2. but the devil will make no truce , but the everlasting destruction of soul and body : and will you cast by your armour , and yield to his mercy ; and revolt from him that will warrant you the victory , if you will but keep the field : you are in a journey on life and death , and will you now turn back , or run after butterflies , when the sun grows low and you have far to go ; when you must be sure to tread these weary steps back again , or lose your life : much of your time is already spent , and your work undone , and what you have done you are again plucking down , and making your work every day more and harder . consider you will repent or not repent , if you do not repent you are undone ; for no unrepenting sinner shall come to heaven ; if you do repent it will cost you more pains , dolour , trouble and grief , than ever the pleasure of your sin was worth ; you must vomit up all those sweet morsels which you have swallowed with so much delight . eternity lies before you , and one of these days death will open the door and let you in . what apprehensions then will you have of these courses , when you see an infinite ocean of eternity before you , and all your friends and pleasures departing from you and forsaking you : now what good will your merry company do you , what comfort can they bring , where are now your merry meetings , and your drunken revels ? will the thoughts of them chear up your hearts , those that were your councellors and consorts in your vanity , now will be your companions in your misery . those for whose sakes you lost your soul , your god , your glory , what will they , what can they do for you if you miscarry together : you will curse the time that ever you saw each others faces , and those that now give such big words against god and godliness , will then call upon the mountains to fall upon them , and the hills to cover them : well such a day will come , and we know not whether you have a day to live , or what may be in the womb of the next morning : our saviour christ adviseth to prepare for it ; luke 21. 34 , 35. and take heed to your selves , lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness , and cares of this life , and so that day come upon you unawares ; for as a snare shall it come on all them than dwell on the face of the whole earth . how dare you spend a day in an ale-house , that do not know if you have another to live : but as the poet saith , fleres si scires unum tua tempora mensem , rides cum non sit forsitan una dies . many a man would weep and mourn , if he knew he had but a month to live , that now laughs and rejoyceth and hath but a day to live . this time which now you so lavishly spend , neither in your general nor particular calling , must be accounted for ; and what the price will be god only knows : and at death , whether do you think the time spent in humilation , prayer , hearing , reading , meditating , christian conference ; exhorting the careless , instructing the ignorant , comforting the dejected , visiting the sick , relieving the poor ; and generally in acts of piety and charity ; will bring most comfort : or the time spent in drinking and drabbing , in hawking , hunting , carding , diceing , cocking , playing , or such like vanities ? i know not what your thoughts be now , but i know what they will be hereafter ; god hath allowed us no time to spend idly , but all should be spent , either in our general or particular calling ; or that which may enable us thereunto : but there are many that can spare no time from their recreations , either for the one or the other ; but time will be better valued . aggra . 8. by your accustoming your self to this filthy sin , you are grown more bold and impudent in it ; it hath almost , if not altogether , taken away the conscience of sin : you are almost come to that pass as those that god complained of , jer. 6. 15. were they ashamed when they committed abomination ? nay , they were not ashamed , neither could they blush ; therefore they shall fall amongst them that fall , &c. is not this your condition ? nay , do you not rather boast of it ? and indeed this sin is grown very brazen faced in our dayes ; the time was when , they that slept , slept in the night ; and those that were drunk , were drunk in the night . this sin was a work of darkness , and like the owl , was ashamed to be seen by day ; but now it fears no colours , men are not ashamed to be seen reeling in the streets , or vomiting in the market-place , or dead-drunk at noon-day , or swearing in the magistrates presence ; such a height of impiety men are arrived at : but there was some hopes when sin was driven into corners , but there is little when it dares authority and beards the magistrate himself . by often sinning men come to be past feeling ; like a workman's hand , by much labor is hardened . conscience when 't is often check'd and snub'd , at last leaves checking ; and the devil sears it with his hot iron , that it becomes unsensible ; but at last it will speak , and will not hold its peace : the devil at last makes a path-way over the heart , and so all the seed is lost that falls upon this high-way ground ; and men become sermon proof , and ordinance proof : they can sit still and have hell-fire flasht in their faces , and not regard it . what god speaks of the leviathan , job 4. 24 is true of them , in another sense ; their heart is as firm as a stone , yea as hard as a piece of the neather millstone . the acts of sin increase the habit , and at last it becomes as natural to them to sin as to live ; and they draw in iniquity as they draw in their breath : they commit sin as easily as water runs down the channel . custom breeds a second nature , of such doth god speak , jer. 13. 23. can the ethiopian change his skin , or the leopard his spots ; then may ye also do good , which are accustomed to do evil . some vainly promise themselves repentance hereafter , but their deceitful heart puts a cheat upon them ; there is not one of many that send repentance thus before them , that ever overtake it . those that have long accustomed themselves to sin , and those that have long enjoyed the means of grace , and are grown sermon proof ; and those that have made profession of religion , and faln back , 't is a rare thing to see them prove true converts . how much of this concerns you , let your own conscience judge ; i do not say god will not receive such when they do come , but i have not observed many such willing to come . aggra . 9. by this sinful course of yours , you also disable your self for doing that good in the place which god requires at your hands , and otherwise you might do , either to the souls or bodies of others : for the soul you have a great deal of knowledge , and might have been very instrumental of doing good in your place , either by admonition , exhortation , reproof , counsel , comfort , or such like ; but you have made your self incapable almost of doing any good this way , by your bad example : who will think you are in earnest , when your actions give your tongue the lie ? who will not think you do not believe your own words ? do not you throw down with the one hand what you build with the other ? who can think that you believe there is indeed such a deformity in sin , and such a beauty in holiness , that observes your life and conversation ? how can you say to your brother , let me pluck out the mote out of thy eye , when you have a beam in your own ? will not he quickly say , physician heal thy self : qui alterum incusat probri ipsum se intueri oportet . he is an unfit reprover , that is guilty of the objected crime . and for the body you likewise disable your self for doing that good that god requires , and which otherwise you might do . god hath given you a competent estate , whereby you may be helpful to those that want ; he gave it to this end , to feed the hungry and cloath the naked ; to be ready to do good , willing to distribute , and to be rich in good works . think not that you are the chief proprietor , you are but a steward , and must give an account ; you may not do as you will with what you call your own : but if you dispose of your estate according to the mind of god , he will give you sufficient wages . but by this your extravagant courses and excessive spending , you waste not onely your own part , but gods part also ; which he hath reserved for the poor . all men are his servants , and what they have are but talents lent ; to some five , to some two , and to others one ; and where much is given , much will be required . the great housholder provides meat for all his family , but he keeps stewards under him , to see they shall not want ; and to give them their meat in due season : and you are one of these . if now you beat your fellow servants , and eat and drink with the drunken , your lord will come when you are not aware , and give you your portion with hypocrites ; mat. 24. 49 , &c. the poor have a right to what you enjoy and can spare , and though they cannot challenge it and take it , yet god will vindicate their cause if it be denied or with-held . how much might you promote religion and gods interest in your neighbourhood , were your life and conversation exemplary ? but now you do more harm than good by your example , and it had been better the countrey had not known you ; and that you had never known your estate , if you thus proceed . aggrav . 10. the excessive wasting of your estate , is no doubt a great sin in you at any time ; but at this time of scarcity especially , is a very great aggravation . when there is complaining in our streets , and the children cry for bread ; when there is none to break it , and many poor families are ready to perish for want ; and a supply can hardly be found : when corn hath been at such an excessive rate , 8 and 9 shillings the measure . eye the many poor housholders that before made a handsome shift to live , are now forced to beg with their wives and families ; and some 't is believed have perished for want of bread. now at this time , when the hand of god is so evidently stretcht out against us , that you and such as you , if you were unconcerned , should thus waste and devour the good creatures wilfully ; which should keep poor christians ; and one of you swallow down more in one day , than would keep a considerable family with bread a week . will not the lord visit for these things ; and will not his soul be avenged on such a people as this ? the great housholder hath provided bread enough for all his family , but that some of them by gluttony and drunkenness devour what the others should eat . will he not call them to an account at last ? see how he likes of it , isa . 22. 12 , 13. in that day did the lord call for weeping and for mourning , and to baldness and girding with sackcloth ; and behold joy and gladness , slaying oxen and killing sheep , &c. and it was revealed in my ear by the lord of hosts , surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till you die . god also threatens those , that they shall go captives with the first that go , that drink wine in bowles and annoint themselves with chief ointment , and forget the afflictions of joseph , amos 6. 6 , 7. and the blood of those which have perished for want of those creatures which you have wilfully wasted , god will lay at your door . in a word , consider your pious education , your former holy conversation , the convictions upon your spirit ; knowing and acknowledging your courses bad : the profession of religion you have made , the incouragements which you gave , the sading of the hearts of the godly , the strengthening the hands of the wicked , the vows and covenants you have made to god , and promises to men ; the grief you bring your friends and relations , the hardning of your heart by custom , the disabling your self to do good to soul or body ; and the wilful wasteing of the creatures in this time of need ; will all rise up in judgment against you . obj. 1. but it may be you will object and say , you do not drink to drunkenness , you can carry it away well enough ; you stagger not over it , neither do you vomit as others do : and though i fear this excuse cannot always be pleaded , yet if it were taken for granted , 't is but a fig-leaf to cover your nakedness , and will prove too thin and short . a man may drink to excess that can carry it away as you say . we read of benhadad , whom god himself tells us was drinking himself drunk with the thirty two kings that were with him ; and yet could give directions to his souldiers : yea , escaped away on horse-back with his army . the trial of drunkenness which we have amongst many , is not the same with gods : many think that man is not drunk that can crawl out of the carts way , or rise himself out of the fire , or hit fingers with another ; but they are not competent judges in that case , that are themselves so nearly concerned . 't is not only drunkenness that trips up a mans heels , that he cannot go nor stand , but when a man over-affects drink , or spends too much time , or too much money ; or wastes the good creatures needlesly ; that drinks too much for his purse , or too much for his health , or too much for his reason : for a man hath no more reason to drown his time , to drown his estate , or his credit , than he hath to drown his wit ; for all these are talents for which he must be accountable . but suppose you are stronger than others , and can drink more ; is this therefore a warrant so to do ; see whether god seals it or no : isaiah 5. 22. wo unto them that are mighty to drink wine , and men of strength to mingle strong drink . must god be dishonoured , the creature abused , because thou hast a stronger brain ; 't is pity mercies should be so abused : but besides this guilt , are you not in the mean time guilty of the drunkenness of others ; have you not forced them to it , that you may laugh at their folly ? see then what the lord saith to you ; hab. 2. 15 , 16. wo unto him that giveth his neighbour drink , that puttest thy bottle to him , and makest him drunken also ; that thou mayst look on their nakedness : thou art filled with shame for glory : drink thou also , and let thy fore-skin be uncovered : the cup of the lords right hand shall be turned unto thee , and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory . now if you glory in your strength to drink , and this too common ; consider this text , and see what will be the issue : the cup of gods indignation will be such as you cannot bear ; thy own sins are great enough , you need not other mens . obj. 2. perhaps you will say , we have the examples of many , yea , many great men , and many learned men , and of some good men also , for our imitations : yea , this disease is epidemical and grown common , both in court and country ; and when a fashion is become national , 't is no discredit to wear it ; and 't is true , the more is the pitty : examples of great ones are very prevalent , and if bad infectious ; these are stars of the first magnitude ; and like the primum mobile , carry all before them : and they have oft times a hand in the transgression , and leave an infectious air , that few can escape that comes near them . what a sad example did benhadad and thirty two kings that were with him give to their followers , when they were all drunk : but will this excuse serve our turns before god ; did it excuse poor men before the flood , that great ones did thus or thus ; or in sodom , that the rulers were in the transgression ? should they command sin , they are are not to be obeyed ; because 't is forbidden by a greater authority : how much less when we are left at liberty . great men are not always good men , neither is their example always imitable ; 1 cor. 1. 16. not many wise men after the flesh , not many mighty , not many noble are called : the greatest number commonly are the worst , and the greatest men not always the best : had nooh followed the examples of the ●●●…at ones of his age , he might have been ●●●…wned for company : it was better be in the 〈◊〉 alone , than in the flood with company . i ●●●…nking and drabbing is too much in fashion in these times , but 't is a bad fashion , and that for which the land mourns ; and god hath a controversie with us ; and threatens to pluck the cup from the drunkards mouth ; 4 hos . 1. 2 , 3. and such customes are better broken then kept . the way to hell is most trodden , and most mens custom is to walk in it ; but wo to that man that follows that fashion : we must not follow a multitude to do evil . we are the sinful off-spring of adam , and therefore like him we frame excuses , and seek to lay the fault upon another : i was forc'd , i could not help it ; i must pledg the health : but had we known there had been poyson in the cup , we would have helpt it . harpaste , a woman in seneca , being in the night suddenly struck blind ; she blames the darkness of the house , the sun for not rising , &c. but would not acknowledge her own deficiency . thus 't is with us , any shall be faulted so we be free ; like the man that had a thorn in his foot , yet imputed his halting to the roughness of the way ; no man can live in such an age , but he must do as others do ; but no man should break gods command to please any mans humour . that the sin is grown national , 't is so much the sadder , and presages a national judgment ; as sodoms sins and the sins of the old world did ; and israels before the captivity : when it hid it self in corners there was hopes , but when it dares the magistrate , and sends a challenge to god himself ; the ulcer is desperate , and the member more fit to be cut off than cherished : when rotten fruits hangs out in the sight of the sun , and men declare their sin as sodom and hide it not ; what can we expect but sodoms plagues : but blessed be god there is no force upon us , men may be sober if they will , and many are ; yea many noble and learned : why do you not follow their examples which is worth imitating . i know vicious great men , are like load-stones that draw iron ; that if a chain of iron be near , the loadstone draws the first link , then the second , till the whole chain comes ; so the devil puts such an influence in men , that one draws his neighbour and he a third , till most are corrupted : or rather they are like to jet that draws straws , or light refuse ; but no solid thing : they are like to gun-powder , when one corn is fired it fires the next , and that another , till all be in a flame . the devil is like a cunning angler , he holds out the bait , but hides himself behind the bush : many are fastened with the bait before they see the hand that holds it . the devil doth not thrust a man into an ale-house by the head and shoulders , this might terrifie him ; but he sets good-fellows at the ale house door to call him : and then he apprehends no danger . and for the falls of the godly as they are rare , so they are not recorded for our imitation but caution ; they shew not what we should do , but what we should beware : they are as sea-marks , set up to warn others ; and what mad pilot will rush upon such places , where he knows other ships have there been split . the best men are not always to be imitated ; we must follow paul as he follows after christ ; to the word and to the testimony : this is a sure guid . obj. 3. but i must do as others do , or i shall be mockt , scorned , and had in derision ; should i refuse their healths , what would they think of me ? answ . this is an unsafe rule to follow : some break their necks , hang themselves ; must we needs follow them for fear of a scorn ; some turn thieves , hackers ; and come to the gallows ; and must we follow them also . if you do as others do , you must fare as others fare , and receive your wages together : if you follow the greatest company , it will be in the worst way ; for most miscarry and go to hell. christ tells us broad is the way that leads to destruction , and many men go that way . who is it that will mock you for keeping the commands of god ? not one that loves god , ior oves your soul , or that carries the face of an honest man ; and those that have neither good word for god , or for any good man , for the word of god , or the image of god ; what matter is it if they have none for you : those that hate god and godliness , and every thing that looks like god ; that love none but those that will damn their own souls with them for company ; what is their love worth ? will you venture for their love to have gods hatred , and to go to hell to bear them company ? were a malefactor going to execution ; and laught at you that you would not bear him company ; would this move you so to do ? by this rule indeed daniel might have escaped the lions den ; and the three children the fiery furnace ; but not the wrath of god. probably god was mockt in the old world , and lot in sodom ; but they could not mock them out of their innocency : 't is better have the devil mock them , than god mock them ; prov. 1. 24. take heed of being mockt out of heaven , lest when you come to hell you be laught at for your labour . the seed of the serpent will alwayes oppose the seed of the woman ; and faithful isaac shall meet with a scoffing ishmael ; gods ark and the devils dagon cannot stand together : christ and belial cannot accord : the world will love her own , and cannot abide that christ should pluck one feather from her wing . if you are content to take up with the world , and the world shall pay you your portion , then 't is not best to cross the world ; if not 't is impossible to please it : god willl not allow us to do the devils drudgery for fear of a scorn from his servants . christ gave no dispensatition to break his laws rather than be scorn'd . obj. 4. but though i do follow these courses for a while , yet i intend hereafter to repent and to reform . why may not i do as the penitent thief did ? and you may ( saith one ) as rationally conclude that the sun shall stand still at your command , because it did so at the command of josuah ; or that the sea should divide to let you pass , because it did so for israel : or that you may spur your ass and make him speak , as balaam did : or that you may take a journey and leave your money behind , in hope to find a purse of money in your way , as some others have done . were not these think you mad conclusions , and truly this is as reasonless . one man in five thousand years was saved by late repentance , therefore i shall be a second , when five thousand men in one year miscarry upon the like account . god doth seldom work such miracles , where the means of grace is afforded ; perhaps it was the first sermon that ever this thief heard , but you have heard thousands : there are indeed many , that like you , send repentance and religion before them to sixty ; but such men seldom ever overtake it . do you really think that god will take up with the blind and the lame , will he give us leave to sacrifice the prime and marrow of our time to the devil , and give him the dregs and the refuse ? will he suffer you to do the devils work all day , and receive his wages at night ? no , no , most men deal by god , as bad debtors do by their creditors , beg more time , and put it off from one week to another , and then break and never pay ? so they break their time with god , but never come to make good their promises . more objections might be answered , but there is none that can stumble a rational unprejudiced man : and i have already far exceeded my intended limits , i shall therefore draw towards a conclusion . thus have i performed a christian , though perhaps an unwelcome duty , in putting you in remembrance of what you knew before ; if you would not lose all your pains for heaven , and all the duties that ever you performed ; and have them all thrown back into your face as dung : if you would not lose gods favour , the benefit of christs merits , your own soul , heaven , and happiness , consider from whence you are fallen and return and do your first works : if you have found out any nearer , easier way to heaven than ever any yet could do ; demonstrate it , and convince us of it ; but before you venture your soul upon it , be sure it ends there : the attempt of any such experiments will prove vain ; for if there be any but the path of holiness that ends in happiness , then call me a false prophet ; or if there be any other way into gods holy hill , than by a pure heart and clean hands , then am i content to be called a deceiver ; but if i be deceived god himself hath deceived me , who tells me , without holiness no one shall see god ; without faith no one can please god ; without repentance we shall all perish ; that no unrighteous person shall enjoy heaven , and no unregenerate man shall ever enter there ; that those that live after the flesh shall die ; that the ungodly shall go into everlasting punishment , but the righteous into life eternal : those that think otherwise will find that god speaks in earnest what they took in jest . the time is comming , that you will find it had been better for you that you had never known the way of life , then having known it to depart from it . if you give up the reins to corruption , it will mislead you , and prove a treacherous guid ; if you decline the way of self-denial , you will miss of heaven ; for none ever come there any other way loose licenciousness and carnal liberty , is diametrically opposite to it ; wicked company if you forsake them not , will be your bane ; and if repentance prevent it not , you will curse the time that ever you saw each others face . what ever society or party a man be , what ever religion or opinion , though in the most reformed church , and in the society of the strictest christians ; yet without the power of godliness , and the practice of holiness , he shall never go to heaven ; for no unclean thing shall ever enter there : no dirty dog shall tread upon that pavement . or what ever his profession , or seeming holiness hath been , yet if he backslide , he shall die in his sins , and his righteousness shall not be remembred : the backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways ; prov. 13. 20. he that puts his hand to the plow and looks back , he is not fit for the kingdom of heaven ; if any draw back , gods soul shall have no pleasure in them . thus have i made bold , perhaps you may think too bold , to tell you my thoughts of your present condition ; perhaps you may dislike it because 't is not in the language of your flatterers ; but to skin over a sore is not the way to cure it ; the rebukes of a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy . rebuke a wiseman , saith solomon , and he will love you . let the righteous smite me , saith david , psal . 141. 5. it shall be a kindness ; and let him reprove me , it shall be an excellent oyl which shall not break my head . what event it will have upon you i know not , or what entertainment it will meet with i cannot tell ; though you will not receive it , my reward will be with my god , and my judgment with the most high , whose errand it is i am come upon ; and he that knows the secrets of all hearts , knows whether it be in love or hatred that i have dealt so plainly with you : had i hated you , i know no more effectual means to ruin you , than to incourage you in this sinful course ; and if i meet with hatred for my love , 't is no more than i am acquainted with well if you neglect this warning and miscarry , these lines will be a witness upon record against you ; and i my self shall stand up in my lot to bear witness for god , that he sent you this warning by me : but my end and design is next to gods glory , your reformation and salvation ; which as it is my desire , so it shall be the prayers of him who is eaton . april 30. 1675. your faithful monitor edward bvry . finis . books to be sold by thomas parkhurst at the bible and three crowns in cheapside . sermons upon the whole epistle of saint paul to the colossians , by mr. john daille : translated into english by f. s. thomas taylor 's works , the first volume , fol. these two treatises next following , are written by mr. george swinnock . the door of salvation opened , by the key of regeneration . the incomparableness of god in his being , attributes , works , and word , opened and applied . an antidote against quakerism . by steven scanderet . an exposition on the five first chapters of ezekiel , with useful observations thereupon . by will. greenhill 4to . the gospel-covenant , or the covenant of grace opened : preached in new-england , by peter bulkely , 4to . god's holy mind touching matters moral , which himself uttered in ten words , or ten commandments ; also an exposition on the lords prayer . by edward elton b. d. 4to . fiery jesuite , or an historical collection of the rise , increase , doctrines , and deeds of the jesuites . exposed to view for the sake of london , 4to . horologiographia optica ; dyalling universal and particular , speculative , and practical ; together with the description of the court of arts by a new method . by sylvanus morgan , 4to . the conversion of a sinner . heart-treasure ; or a treatise tending to fill and furnish the head and heart of every christian , with soul-inriching treasure of truths , graces , experiences , and comforts . the sure mercies of david , or a second part of the hearts treasure . closet prayer , a christian duty , all three by o. heywood of quenching the spirit , the evil of it , in respect both of its causes and effects , discovered . by theophilus polwheile . the greatest loss , upon matth. 16 26. by james livesey . a defence against the fear of death . by zach. crofton . gods soveraignty displayed . by will. greering . the godly mans ark , or city of refuge in the day of his distress in 5 sermons ; with mrs. moor's evidences for heaven . by ed. calamy . the almost christian discovered : or the false professor tryed and cast . spiritual wisdom improved against temptation . both by m. mead. the true bounds of christian freedom : or a discourse shewing the extents and restraints of christian liberty , wherein the truth is setled ; many errours confuted , out of john 8. ver . 36. the lords day enlivened , or a treatise of the sabbath . by philip goodwin . the sinfulness of sin , and the fulness of christ , two sermons . by will. bridge . a plain and familiar method of instructing the younger sort , according to the lesser catechism of the late reverend assembly of divines . by tho. lye. finis . a warning-piece to all drunkards and health-drinkers faithfully collected from the works of english and foreign learned authors of good esteem, mr. samuel ward and mr. samuel clark, and others ... 1682 approx. 158 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 43 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a67662 wing w931 estc r8118 12145206 ocm 12145206 54938 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a67662) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 54938) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 905:22) a warning-piece to all drunkards and health-drinkers faithfully collected from the works of english and foreign learned authors of good esteem, mr. samuel ward and mr. samuel clark, and others ... ward, samuel, 1572-1643. clarke, samuel, 1599-1682. [8], 72 p. printed for the author : and are to be sold by langley curtis ..., london : 1682. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng alcoholism -great britain -early works to 1800. 2005-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-04 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2005-04 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a warning-piece to all drunkards and health-drinkers : faithfully collected from the works of english and foreign learned authors of good esteem , mr. samuel ward and mr. samuel clark , and others . with above one hundred and twenty sad and dreadful examples of gods severe judgements upon notorious drunkards : twelve of the chiefest are graved in copper-plates , to deterr others from the like provoking sins , and healths with a huzza . to which is added his majesties proclamation against vicious , debauched , prophane persons , and drinkers of his health . also some cautions of a learned doctor of physick , declaring how intemperate drinking destroyes our bodily health and strength . felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum . london , printed for the author , and are to be sold by langley curtis at the sign of sir edmundbury godfrey near fleet-bridge , 1682. the preface . it was once the distressed case of those mariners in jonah , that by no means could save themselves from shipwrack , they rowed and they prayed , and they did what men could doe , and yet the sea wrought , and the angry waves beat upon them , till that sleepy jonah , for whose sake it was this evil came upon them , was thrown over-board into the sea. it were worth the while to sit down and think in this perilous season of delusion and division , whereby men are all in a tempest , the great god influencing the storms in his just indignation ; and though there are those that rowe hard and pray hard , no abatement of the danger , but the heavens are darker and darker over our heads : i say it were worth the while to enquire into the provocation , what the cause is of these swellings of jordan , and innundations of such seas that we never saw worse , nor more dangerous to destroy us all : like that tempest upon the adriatick sea , of which the apostle gave his opinion , that this voyage would be with hurt and much damage , not only of the lading and ship , but also of their lives , act. 27. it is readily confest of all hands amongst those that pretend to the least degree of wisdom , that sin in general is the cause of all this . they must assemble themselves amongst those that sit in the seat of scorners , and declare themselves to have taken the highest degree in atheism and defiance of a god , that will not yield us this point : they must arest the reins of providential government out of gods hands , and put them into the hands of blind chance and fortune , and then the world is like to be well governed ; and those of this belief may chance to get to heaven , if blind fortune do but know the way . but now the question will rise , for whose sins ? and for what sins ? for the first of these , it must necessarily be granted , that the sins of great men have more of the spirit of provocation in them , than the sins of men of low degree : and the sins of the priests are more full of bloody circumstances than the sins of the laity , and the epidemicalness of sin cryes for extirpation with a louder voice , than the sins of some few diseased persons that through incogitancy have made themselves out of frame . and further , the more mercies and deliverances men sin against , and the greater gospel-light , and the more sacred vows and resolutions they sin against , the more is their sin like to bring down such kind of judgments as shall not be prayed away : and these reflections will justifie god in the equality of his proceedings , if we all perish from off this good land. but if you ask me for what particular sin , or way of sinning it is that the lord is angry with us ; i would as soon lay the blame upon the drunkenness of the nation , as upon any one branch of that prophaneness that is gone abroad . and the reasons are these . 1. the bewitching , besotting nature of drunkenness : it doth not turn men into beasts , as some think , for a beast scorns it : i do n't know that ever i saw a beast drunk ( unless it were a swine ) in my life . but it turns them into fools and sots , dehominates them , turns them out of their own essences for the time , and so disfigures them , that god saith , non est haec imago mea , this is not my image ; and so cares not what judgments he le ts fall upon their heads : and this insatuation is more eminently seen in the poorer sort , that earn their money hardest , and pay most for their drink : for when others pay their money , these pay their time also , which is more than their money , besides the loss of trade and other possible advantages : that others drink sack cheaper than ▪ they pay for their beer and ale , all things considered ; and their poor wives and children by this means are in want of bread for their mouths ▪ and will not god be avenged upon such a sin as this ? their money burns in their pockets , but it will burn worse in their conscieces , if ever god shew them mercy . 2. drunkenness is the general rendezvouze of all sin , the common parent of the greatest provocations . even the worst of men when they are drunk , do that which if they were sober they would blush to be found guilty of . men naturally quiet , good humor'd , moderate in sinning , as one may say , when they are themselves ; are by drunkenness metamorphos'd into such extravagancies , you would not think them to be the same men : thus having their natural tempers well soaked in strong liquors , they are framable into any shape . satan calls for : would he have a swearer ? give him a provocation , and there he is : an adulterer ? bring him a temptation , and there he is : a persecutor , he swears by all that 's sacred , he will root all the professors out of the countrey . satan can mould him into any shape , and raise a devil out of a samuel by this artifice . and how can the sea but boyl , when all the foul spirits are blowing up a flame underneath ? nations must needs reel , when the inhabitants can't stand upon their feet ; and god must needs strike , when he hath an advantage given him to cut off all sorts of sins at one blow . 3. and as to health-drinking , it is an engine invented by the devil , to carry on the sin of drunkenness with the greater ease and infallibility , by which men must either be suspected of their loyalty to their sovereign , or respect to their friends ( neither of which any sober man can be defective in ) if they refuse it , though upon conscientious principles : and so it becomes a great snare to those that would be temperte : every man at all times hath not consideration enough to give him a convincing evidence , that loyalty and respect to others , is not proper to be shewn in so absurd a method ; and so this poysoned health goeth down ( right or wrong ) the throats of those that do n't think what they do . here the sin lies chiefly , though not only , upon the imposer ; as our saviour said , wo to the world because of offences , but wo be to him by whom the offence comes : wo to the imposers of healths , which commonly happens to be some ordinary fellow in the company , that hath nothing but that single ceremony to commend his love or loyalty to the world , who also having a tumor of pride in him , hath no way to overtop and command his superiours , but upon the advantage of the laws of drunkenness . moreover , it is a custom of sinning only proper for those that are upon the design of mortgaging their senses : for there is no sence in it or reason for it ? how can any man drink anothers health ? or by what new kind of transubstantiation can his health be converted into a glass of liquor ? or if so ! what 's the man the better , to have his health drank into my body , and then piss'd out again against the walls ? and why not eat his health , rather than drink it ? and so bring up a new fashion of eating of healths , to subserve the intemperances of the sin of gluttony . sometimes it is expressed by drinking a health to the confusion of , &c. and here 's nonsence upon the neck of nonsence , which is perfect foolery , as patch upon patch is plain beggery : a health to the confusion — if they mean a confusion to the health , as i think they do , why is it exprest quite contrary to what they mean ? unless it be to give us to understand , that men that will begin a health are enter'd upon speaking of nonsence , and may be lookt on as half drunk already . but laying all this aside , they say all these are modes and ceremonies in drinking ; and their meaning is no more , but only to pray for the health and prosperity of such and such ▪ which is the reason they are at it in a posture of prayer , standing up , standing bare , sometimes kneeling upon their knees , as supplicants do to god almighty : but will any rational man think these men at prayers ? are these praying postures ? did god ever command , or his people ever apply to the throne in this manner of address ? have men lived to this age , and cannot yet distinguish between drinking intemperately and praying fervently ? as if to pray were to drink , and to drink were to pray ! worse than pagan idolatry , to offer at the throne of the great god , with a glass of wine in our hand ! it may be praying to bacchus , but not to god. heaven must needs be shut against these prayings : and to what purpose is any mans health prayed for , by such kind of prayers , so circumstanced , as we are very sure that god will throw them back as dung in the faces of those that thus disorderly put them up ? what hast thou to do to take his name in thy mouth , when thou hatest to be reformed ? to see the postures of health-drinkers , singing , and roaring , hollowing and carousing , and huzzaing after a new fashion , sometimes quarrelling , and challenging , and duelling ; can any man that hath not his wits in his pocket , think these men at prayers ? now because we find by experience ; and from the nature of the thing , that these prodigious kind of offenders we now speak of , are under no likelihood to be perswaded out of their cursed way by arguments drawn from the love of christ , or hope of glory , which are things they do n't trouble their heads about ; or fear of hell , ( let them alone till that day ; ) the author of these collections hath very well and to good purpose gather'd up together out of several authors , several instances of the judgments of god taking these sinners in the very fact , and tacking them up as dreadful instances and examples of his great abomination of , and declared vengeance against this sort of sinners more specially ; that reading these histories we may prevent being made a history our selves : and though they are but collections , i do n't know why a good dish may not be twice set upon the table . there are several late instances of gods vengeance upon drunkards , thundred down upon the heads of many of them in our age ; the publication of which is forborn , out of a tender respect to their relations yet surviving : the next generation will be able to set forth remarkable stroaks from heaven upon some , ( and no mean ones neither . ) but least i transgress the bounds of a preface , no more , kind reader , but my love to thy soul remembred , with my earnest prayer to god for the health of sion , and all that love the lord jesus christ in sincerity . farewell . a collection of some part of a sermon long since preached by mr. samuel ward of ipswich , entituled , a wo to drunkards : he lived in the dayes of famous king james , and was like righteous lot , whose soul was vexed with the wicked conversation of the sodomites : he published divers other good sermons . his text was in prov . xxiii . vers. 29 , 32. to whom is woe ? to whom is sorrow ? to whom is strife , & c ? in the end it will bite like a serpent , and sting like a cockatrice he begins thus : seer , art thou also blind ? watchman , art thou also drunk , or asleep ? or hath a spirit of slumber put out thine eyes ? up to thy watch-tower , what descriest thou ? ah lord ! what end or number is there of the vanities which mine eyes are weary of beholding ? but what seest thou ? i see men walking like the tops of trees shaken with the wind , like masts of ships reeling on the tempestuous seas : drunkenness i mean , that hatefull night-bird ; which was wont to wait for the twilight , to seek nooks and corners , to avoid the howling and wonderment of boyes and girles ; now as if it were some eaglet , to dare the sun-light , to fly abroad at high noon in every street , in open markets and fairs , without fear or shame , without controul or punishment , to the disgrace of the nation , the out-facing of magistracy and ministry , the utter undoing ( without timely prevention ) of health and wealth , piety and vertue , town and countrey , church and common-wealth . and doest thou like a dumb dog hold thy peace at these things ? dost thou with solomon's sluggard fold thine hands in thy bosom , and give thy self to ease and drowsiness , while the envious man causeth the noisomest and basest of weeds to over-run the choicest eden of god ? up and arise , lift up thy voice , spare not , and cry aloud ? what shall i cry ? cry , woe and woe again unto the crown of pride , the drunkards of ephraim . take up a parable , and tell them how it stingeth like the cockatrice ; declare unto them the deadly poyson of this odious sin. shew them also the soveraign antidote and cure of it , in the cup that was drunk off by him that was able to overcome it : cause them to behold the brazen serpent , and be healed . and what though some of these deaf adders will not be charmed nor cured ; yea though few or none of this swinish herd of habitual drunkards , accustomed to wallow in their mire ; yea , deeply and irrecoverably plunged by legions of devils into the dead sea of their filthiness ? what if not one of them will be washed and made clean , but turn again to their vomit , and trample the pearls of all admonition under feet ; yea , turn again and rend their reprovers with scoffs and scorns , making jests and songs on their ale-bench ? yet may some young ones be deterred , and some novices reclaimed , some parents and magistrates awakened to prevent and suppress the spreading of this gangrene : and god have his work in such as belong to his grace . and what is impossible to the work of his grace ? go to then now ye drunkards , listen , not what i or any ordinary hedge-priest ( as you style us ) but that most wise and experienced royal preacher hath to say unto you . and because you are a dull and thick eared generation , he first deals with you by way of question , a figure of force and impression : to whom is woe , & c ? you use to say , woe be to hypocrites ; it 's true , wo be to such and all other witting and willing sinners ; but there are no kind of offenders on whom woe doth so palpably , inevitably attend , as to you drunkards . you promise your selves mirth , pleasure , and jollity in your cups ; but for one drop of your mad mirth , be sure of gallons and tons of woe , gall , wormwood , and bitterness here and hereafter . other sinners shall taste of the cup , but you shall drink off the dregs of god's wrath and displeasure . to whom is strife ? you talk of good fellowship and friendship , but wine is a rager and tumultuous , a mocker , a make-bate , and sets you a quarrelling , and medling . when wit 's out of the head , and strength out of the body , it thrusts even cowards and dastards , unfenced and unarmed , into needless frayes and combats : and then to whom are wounds , broken heads , blew eyes , maimed limbs ? you have a drunken by-word , drunkards take no harm ; but how many are the mishaps and untimely misfortunes that betide such , which though they feel not in drink , they carry as marks and brands unto their grave . you pretend you drink healths , and for health ; but to whom are all kind of diseases , infirmities , deformities , pearled faces , palsies , dropsies , head-aches , if not to drunkards ? all interpreters agree , that he means some most virulent serpent , whose poyson is pleasant and deadly . all the woes he hath mentioned before , were but as the sting of some emmet , wasp or nettle , in comparison of this cockatrice , which is even unto death ; death speedy , death painful , and woful death , and that as naturally and inevitably as opium procureth sleep , as hellebore purgeth , or any poyson killeth . three forked is the sting , and threefold is the death it procureth to all that are stung therewith . the first is , the death of grace ; the second is , of the body ; the third is , of soul and body eternal . all sin is the poyson wherewithall the old serpent and red dragon envenomes the soul of man , but no sin ( except it be that which is unto death ) so mortal as this , which though not ever unpardonably , yet for the most part is also irrecoverably and inevitably unto death . seest thou one bitten with any other snake , there is hope and help ; as the father said of his son , when he had information of his gaming , of his prodigality , yea , of his whoring ; but when he heard that he was poysoned with drunkenness , he gave him for dead , his case for desperate and forlorn . the adulterer and usurer desire to enjoy their sin alone , but the chiefest pastime of a drunkard is to heat and overcome others with wine , that he may discover their nakedness , and glory in their foyl and folly . in a word , excess of wine , and the spirit of grace are opposites ; the former expells the latter out of the heart , as smoak doth bees out of the hive ; and makes the man a meer slave and prey to satan and his snares ; when , by this poyson he hath put out his eyes , and spoyled him of his strength , he useth him as the philistines did sampson , leads him in a string whither he pleaseth , like a very drudge , scorn and make-sport to himself and his imps ; makes him grind in the mill of all kind of sins and vices . and that i take to be the reason why drunkenness is not specially prohibited in any one of the ten commandments , because it is not the single breach of any one , but in effect the violation of all and every one : it is no one sin , but all sins , because it is the in let and sluce to all other sins . the devil having moistened and steeped him in his liquor , shapes him like soft clay , into what mould he pleaseth ; having shaken off his rudder and pilot , dashes his soul upon what rocks , sands , and syrts he listeth , and that with as much ease as a man may push down his body with the least thrust of his hand or finger . he that in his right wits and sober mood seems religious , modest , chast , courteous , secret ; in his drunken fits , swears , blasphemes , rages , strikes , talks filthily , blabs all secrets , commits folly , knows no difference of persons or sexes , becomes wholly at satans command , as a dead organ , to be enacted at his will and pleasure . oh that god would be pleased to open the eyes of some drunkard , to see what a dunghill and carrion his soul is become , and how loathsome effects follow upon thy spiritual death , and sting of this cockatrice , which is the fountain of the other two following , temporal and eternal death . how terrible a theater of god's judgments against drunkards , such as might make their hearts to bleed and relent , if not their ears to tingle ; to hear of a taste of some few such noted and remarkable examples of god's justice , as have come within the compass of mine own notice , and certain knowledge ; i think i should offend to conceal them from the world , whom they may happily keep from being the like to others themselves . here followeth above one hundred and twenty various , sad , and fearful examples of gods judgments on notorious drunkards and health-drinkers in england and foreign countreys , with the places they lived in ; twelve of the chief are graved on copper plates , to deterr all others from the like provoking sins , least the like judgments do befall them . 1. an alewife in kesgrave near to ipswich , who would needs force three serving-men ( that had been drinking in her house , and were taking their leaves ) to stay and drink the three ou ts first ; that is , wit out of the head , money out of the purse , ale out of the pot ; as she was coming towards them with the pot in her hand , was suddenly taken speechless and sick , her tongue swoln in her mouth , never recovered speech , the third day after died . this sir antheny felton , the next gentleman and justice , with divers other eye-witnesses of her sickness , related to me ; whereupon i went to the house with two or three witnesses , and inquired the truth of it . 2. two servants of a brewer in ipswich , drinking for a rump of a turkey , strugling in their drink for it , fell into a scalding cauldron backwards ; whereof the one died presently , the other lingringly and painfully , since my coming to ipswich . 3. anno 1619. a miller in bromeswell coming home drunk from woodbridge , ( as he often did ) would needs go and swim in the mill-pond ; his wife and servants knowing he could not swim , disswaded him ; once by intreaty got him out of the water , but in he would needs go again , and there was drowned ; i was at the house to inquire of this , and found it to be true . 4. in barnwell near to cambridge , one at the sign of the plough , a lusty young man , with two of his neighbours and one woman in their company , agreed to drink a barrel of strong beer , they drank up the vessel ; three of them died within twenty four hours , the fourth hardly escaped after great sickness . this i have under a justice of peace his hand near dwelling , besides the common fame . 5. a butcher in hastingfield hearing the minister inveigh against drunkenness , being at his cups in the ale-house , fell a jesting and scoffing at the minister and his sermons ; and as he was drinking , the drink , or something in the cup quackled him , stuck so in his throat , that he could get it neither up nor down , but strangled him presently . 6. at tillingham in dengy hundred in essex , three young men meeting to drink strong-waters , fell by degrees to half pints : one fell dead in the room , and the other prevented by company coming in , escaped not without much sickness . 7. at bungey in norfolk , three coming out of an ale-house in a very dark evening , swore , they thought it was not darker in hell it self : one of them fell off the bridge into the water , and was drowned : the second fell off his horse , the third sleeping on the ground by the rivers-side , was frozen to death : this have i often heard , but have no certain ground for the truth of it . 8. a bayliff of hadly , upon the lords-day , being drunk at melford , would needs get upon his mare , to ride through the street , affirming ( as the report goes ) that his mare would carry him to the devil ; his mare casts him off , and broke his neck instantly . reported by sundry sufficient witnesses . 9. company drinking in an ale-house at harwich in the night , over against one master russels , and by him out of his window once or twice willed to depart ; at length he came down , and took one of them , and made as if he would carry him to prison , who drawing his knife , fled from him , and was three dayes after taken out of the sea with the knife in his hand . related to me by master russel himself , maior of the town . 10. at tenby in pembrokeshire , a drunkard being exceeding drunk , broke himself all to pieces off an high and steep rock , in a most fearful manner ; and yet the occasion and circumstances of his fall were so ridiculous , as i think not fit to relate , lest , in so serious a judgment , i should move laughter to the reader . 11. a glasier in chancery-lane in london , noted formerly for profession , fell to a common course of drinking , whereof being oft by his wife and many christian friends admonished , yet presuming much of gods mercy to himself , continued therein ; till upon a time , having surcharged his stomach with drink , he fell a vomiting , broke a vein , lay two dayes in extream pain of body , and distress of mind , till in the end recovering a little comfort , he died : both these examples related to me by a gentleman of worth upon his own knowledge . 12. four sundry instances of drunkards wallowing and tumbling in their drink , slain by carts ; i forbear to mention , because such examples are so common and ordinary . 13. a yeoman's son in northampton-shire , who being drunk at wellingborough on a market-day , would needs ride his horse in a bravery over the plowed-lands , fell from his horse , and brake his neck : reported to me by a kinsman of his own . 14. a knight notoriously given to drunkenness , carrying sometime payls of drink into the open field , to make people drunk withall ; being upon a time drinking with company , a woman comes in , delivering him a ring with this posie , drink and die ; saying to him , this is for you , which he took and wore , and within a week after came to his end by drinking : reported by sundry , and justified by a minister dwelling within a mile of the place . 15. two examples have i known of children that murthered their own mothers in drink ; and one notorious drunkard that attempted to kill his father ; of which being hindred , he fired his barn , and was afterward executed : one of these formerly in print . one drunk vomiting broke a vein after 2 days great pain dyed . 4. being drunk were slain by carts . one drunk rideing over plowed lands fell and broke his neck . a child that murthered his mother he being drunk . 17. in dengy hundred near mauldon , about the beginning of his majesties reign , there fell out an extraordinary judgment upon five or six that plotted a solemn drinking at one of their houses , laid in beer for the once , drunk healths in a strange manner , and died thereof within a few weeks , some sooner , and some later : witnessed to me by one that was with one of them on his death-bed , to demand a debt , and often spoken of by mr. heydon , late preacher of mauldon , in the hearing of many : the particular circumstances were exceeding remarkable , but having not sufficient proof for the particulars , i will not report them . 18. one of aylesham in norfolk , a notorious drunkard , was drowned in a shallow brook of water , with his horse by him . 19. whilest this was at the press , a man eighty five years old , or thereabout , in suffolk , overtaken with wine , ( though never in all his life before , as he himself said a little before his fall , seeming to bewail his present condition , and others that knew him , so say of him ) yet going down a pair of stairs ( against the perswasion of a woman sitting by him in his chamber ) fell , and was so dangerously hurt , as he died soon after , not being able to speak from the time of his fall to his death . the names of the parties thus punished , i forbear for the kindreds sake yet living . if conscionable ministers of all places of the land would give notice of such judgments , as come within the compass of their certain knowledge , it might be a great means to suppress this sin , which reigns every where to the scandal of our nation , and high displeasure of almighty god. these may suffice for a taste of gods judgments : easie were it to abound in sundry particular casualties , and fearful examples of this nature . drunkard , that which hath befallen any one of these , may befall thee , if thou wilt dally with this cockatrice ; whatever leagues thou makest with death , and dispensations thou givest thy self from the like . some of these were young , some were rich , some thought themselves as wise as thou ; none of them ever looked for such ignominious ends , more than thou , whoever thou art : if thou hatest such ends , god give thee grace to decline such courses . if thou beest yet insensate with wine , void of wit and fear , i know not what further to mind thee of , but of that third and worst sting of all the rest , which will ever be gnawing , and never dying : which if thou wilt not fear here , sure thou art to feel there , when the red dragon hath gotten thee into his den , and shall fill thy soul with the gall of scorpions , where thou shalt yell and howl for a drop of water to cool thy tongue withall , and shalt be denied so small a refreshing , and have no other liquor to allay thy thirst but that which the lake of brimstone shall afford thee : and that worthily , for that thou wouldest incurr the wrath of the lamb for so base and sordid a sin as drunkenness , of which thou mayest think as venially and slightly as thou wilt . but paul that knew the danger of it , gives thee fair warning , and bids thee not deceive thy self , expresly and by name mentioning it among the mortal sins , excluding from the kingdom of heaven . and the prophet esay tells thee , that for it hell hath enlarged it self , opened its mouth wide , and without measure ; and therefore shall the multitude and their pomp , and the jollyest among them descend into it . consider this , you that are strong to pour in drink , that love to drink sorrow and care away : and be you well assured , that there you shall drink enough for all , having for every drop of your former bousings , vials , yea , whole seas of god's wrath , never to be exhaust . now then i appeal from your selves in drink , to your selves in your sober fits . reason a little the case , and tell me calmly , would you for your own , or any mans pleasure , to gratifie friend or companion , if you knew there had been a toad in the wine-pot ( as twice i have known happened to the death of drinkers ? ) or did you think that some caesar borgia , or brasutus had tempered the cup ? or did you see but a spider in the glass , would you , or durst you carouse it off ? and are you so simple to fear the poyson that can kill the body , and not that which killeth the soul and body ever ; yea , for ever and ever , and if it were possible for more than for ever , for evermore ? oh thou vain fellow , what tellest thou me of friendship , or good fellowship ! wilt thou account him thy friend , or good fellow , that draws thee into his company , that he may poyson thee ? and never thinks he hath given thee right entertainment , or shewed thee kindness enough , till he hath killed thy soul with his kindness ; and with beer made thy body a carkass fit for the biere , a laughing and loathing-stock , not to boys and girls alone , but to men and angels ? why rather sayest thou not to such , what have i to do with you , ye sons of belial , ye poysonful generation of vipers , that hunt for the precious life of a man ? oh but there are few good wits , or great spirits now a days , but will pot it a little for company , what hear i ? oh base and low-spirited times , if that were true ! if we were fallen into such lees of time foretold of by seneca , in which all were so drowned in the dregs of vices , that it should be vertue and honour to bear most drink . but thanks be to god , who hath reserved many thousands of men ▪ and without all comparison more witty and valorous than such pot-wits , and spirits of the buttery , who never bared their knees to drink health , nor ever needed to whet their wits with wine ; or arm their courage with pot-harness . and if it were so , yet if no such wits or spirits shall ever enter into heaven without repentance , let my spirit never come and enter into their paradise ; ever abhor to partake of their bruitish pleasures , lest i partake of their endless woes . if young cyrus could refuse to drink wine , and tell astyages , he thought it to be poyson , for he saw it metamorphose men into beasts and carkases ; what would he have said , if he had known that which we may know , that the wine of drunkards is the wine of sodom and gomorrah ; their grapes , the grapes of gall ; their clusters , the clusters of bitterness , the juyce of dragons , and the venome of asps. scripture examples of drunkenness . the sin of drunkenness is a bewitching sin , hos. 4. 11. it steals away the heart from god and all goodness : it is an old sin , it began presently after the flood . it is a malignant sin , it drowns the brain , wastes the time , consumes the estate . and fills the body with as many diseases as hath an horse ; it is an epidemical sin , that hath almost drowned the whole world with another deluge : in these modern times it began in germany , whence grew that proverb , germani possunt cunctos tolerare labores : o utinam possint tam bene ferre sitim ! the germans can all labours undergo , would they as well could bear their thirst also . but since it hath infected all europe : it is grown into fashion , to quaff soul-sick healths till they make themselves like swine , and worse than beasts : whence one gives us this excellent rule : una salus sanis , nullam potare salutem : non est in pota vera salute salus . drinking no healths you drink your health they say : and drinking healths you drink your health away . scriptural examples . the odiousness and danger of this sin may further appear to us by these following scriptures and examples . drunkenness dangerous , prov. 23. 29. &c. who hath wo ? who hath sorrow ? who hath contentions ? who hath babling ? who hath wounds without cause ? who hath redness of eyes ? & 31. 4. it is not for kings , o lemuel , it is not for kings to drink wine : nor for princes , strong drink : deut. 21. 20. and they shall say unto the elders of his city , this our son is stubborn and rebellious , he will not obey our voice : he is a glutton , and a drunkard ; prov. 20. 1. wine is a mocker , strong drink is raging : and whosoever is deceived thereby , is not wise. hos. 4. 11. whoredom , and wine , and new wine take away the heart . nah. 1. 10. for while they be folden together as thorns , and while they are drunken as drunkards , they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry . 1 cor. 11. 21. for in eating every one taketh before other , his own supper : and one is hungry , and another is drunken . threatened , isai. 5. 11 , 22. wo unto them that rise up early in the morning , that they may follow strong drink , that continue untill night till wine inflame them . 22. woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine , and men of strength to mingle strong drink . amos 6. 6. that drink wine in bowls , and anoint themselves with the chief ointments : but they are not grieved for affliction of joseph . prov. 23. 21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty : and drowsiness shall cloath a man with rags . isa. 28. 1. 3 ▪ wo to the crown of pride , to the drunkards of ephraim : whose glorious beauty is as a fading flower , which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine . v. 3. the crown of pride , the drunkards of ephraim shall be troden under feet . joel 1. 5. awake ye drunkards , and weep and howl all ye drinkers of wine , because of the new wine , for it is cut off from your mouth . 1 cor. 6. 10. nor thieves , nor covetous , nor drunkards , nor revilers , nor extortioners , shall inherit the kingdom of god. forbidden , 1 cor. 5. 11. but now i have written unto you , not to keep company , if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator , or covetous , or an idolater , or a railer , or a drunkard , or an extortioner , with such an one , no not to eat . luke 22. 34. and he said , i tell thee , peter , the cock shall not crow this day , before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me . eph. 5. 18. and be not drunk with wine , wherein is excess : but be ye filled with the spirit : hab. 2. 15. wo unto him that giveth his neighbour drink : that puttest thy bottle to him ▪ and makest him drunken also , that thou mayest look on their nakedness . mat. 24. 49. and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants , and to eat and drink with the drunken : luke 12. 45. but and if that servant say in his heart , my lord delayeth his coming , and shall begin to beat the men-servants , and maidens , and to eat , and drink , and to be drunken , &c. rom. 13. 13. let us walk honestly as in the day , not in rioting and drunkenness , not in chambering and wantonness , not in strife and envying . staggering is a sign of a drunkard , job . 12. 25. they grope in the dark without light , and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. psal. 107. 27. they reel to and fro , and stagger like a drunken man ; and are at their wits end . isa. 19. 14. the lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof : and they have caused egypt to erre in every work thereof , as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit . lot , gen. 19. 32. come , let us make our father drink wine , and we will lie with him , that we may preserve seed of our father . noah , gen. 9. 21. and he drank of the wine , and was drunken , and he was uncovered within his tent . amalekites , 1 sam. 30. 16. and when he had brought him down , behold they were spread abroad upon all the earth , eating , and drinking , and dancing , because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the philistines , and out of the land of judah . amnon , 2 sam. 13. 28. now absolom had commanded his servants , saying , mark ye now when amnons heart is merry with wine , and when i say unto you , smite amnon , then kill him , fear not , have not i commanded you ? be couragious , and be valiant . benhadad , 1 kings 20. 12. and it came to pass when benhadad heard this message , ( as he was drinking , he , and the kings in the pavilions ) that he said unto his servants , set your selves in aray . and they set themselves in aray against the city . david made uriah drunk , 2 sam. 11 13. and when david had called him , he did eat and drink before him , and he made him drunk : and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord , but went not down to his house . belshazzar , dan. 5. 2. belshazzar whilest he tasted the wine , commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels , which his father nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in jerusalem , that the king and his princes , his wives and his concubines might drink therein . nabal , 1 sam. 25. 36. and abigal came to nabal , and behold , he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king , and nabals heart was merry within him , for he was very drunken , wherefore she told him nothing , less or more , untill the morning light . more scriptural examples of drunkenness , and how that great sin hath been punished . the amalekites being drunk were destroyed , 1 sam. 30. 16 , v. to the 21. and when he had brought him down , behold , they were spread abroad upon all the earth , eating , and drinking , and dancing , because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the philistines , and out of the land of judah . and david smote them from the twilight , even unto the evening of the next day : and there escaped not a man of them save four hundred young men which rode upon camels and fled . and david recovered all that the amalekites had carried away : and david rescued his two wives . and there was nothing lacking to them , neither small nor great , neither sons nor daughters , neither spoil , nor any thing that they had taken to them : david recovered all . and david took all the flocks , and the herds , which they drave before those other cattel , and said , this is davids spoil . david recovered all the spoil he had taken at ziglag and his two wives : benhadad king of assiria being drunk , with thirty two kings more , is defeated ; 1 kings 20. 16. to the 22. v. and they went out at noon : but benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions , he , and the kings , the thirty and two kings that helped him . 17. and the young men of the princes of the provinces , went out first , and benhadad sent out , and they told him , saying , there are men come out of samaria . 18. and he said , whether they be come out for peace , take them alive : or whether they be come out for war , take them alive . 19. so these young men of the princes of the provinces , came out of the city , and the army which followed them . 20. and they slew every one his man : and the syrians fled , and israel pursued them : and benhadad the king of syria escaped on an horse , with the horsemen . 21. and the king of israel went out , and smote the horses and chariots , and slew the syrians with a great slaughter . elah king of israel , being drunk , he is slain by zimri , 1 kings 16. 8. to the 11. in the twentieth and sixth year of asa king of judah , began elah the son of baasha to reign over israel in tirzah two years . and his servant zimri ( captain of half his chariots ) conspired against him , as he was in tirzah , drinking himself drunk in the house of arza steward of his house in tirzah . and zimri went in , and smote him , and killed him , in the twenty and seventh year of asa king of judah , and reigned in his stead . belshazzar being drunk , was slain by god ; he praised the gods of gold , &c. and in the same hour came out the hand writing against him , dan. 5. mene , mene , tekel , upharsin . king herod being drunk , caused john baptist to be beheaded , mat. 14. 6. to the 12. but when herods birth-day was kept , the daughter of herodias danced before them , and pleased herod . whereupon he promised with an oath , to give her whatsoever she would ask . and she being before instructed of her mother , said , give me here john baptists head in a charger . and the king was sorry : nevertheless for the oaths sake , and them which sat with him at meat , he commanded it to be given her : and he sent and beheaded john in the prison : and his head was brought in a charger , and given to the damsel , and she brought it to her mother . titus 2. 12. teaching us that denying all ungodliness and wordly lusts , we should live soberly , righteously and godly in this present world. 1 pet. 4. 3. 4. for the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the gentiles , when we walked in lasciviousness , lusts , excess of wine , revellings , banquetings , and abominable idolatries . wherein they think it strange , that you run not with them to the same excess of riot , speaking evil of you . other examples forreign and domestick . 1. whilest the gaul's besieged the roman capitol , they sent out a great party to sack the countrey thereabouts , who being loaden with spoil were returning towards rome : and at night being full of wine , they laid them down to sleep , not fearing any enemy : at which time camillus with his men came upon them , all his souldiers giving a mighty shout , yet could the gauls hardly be awakened , they were so deadly drunk , so that they were easily all of them slain either upon the place , or by the horsemen in the pursuit : plutarch . 2. the tuscans besieging sturium , ( a city that was confederate with rome ) camillus marched privately with his army against them , and coming upon them found the tuscans secure , eating and drinking themselves drunken ; by which means he slew most of them without resistance : and thereby freed the city from danger . plutarch . 3. many dutch-men in joppa drinking themselves drunk upon st. martins-day ( their arch-saint , ) the turks came in suddenly upon them , and cut every ones throat , to the number of 2000. and indeed they were quickly stabbed with the sword , who were cup-shot before . fullers holy war. 4. edgar king of england perceiving that his people had learned of the danes ( many of which were in this land at that time ) to drink excessively , whereupon ensued much drunkenness , together with many other vices : he ordained certain wooden cups with pins , or nails set in them , commonly used , making also a law , that whosoever drank past that mark at one draught , should forfeit a summe of money , one part to the informer , and the other to the judge or chief officer . sp. chron. 5. eschines commending philip king of macedon for a jovial man , that would drink freely ; demosthenes answered , that this was a good quality in a spunge , but not in a king. plut. in vit . demost. 6. alexander the great having taken persepolis , wherein was a stately pallace of the kings of persia , in a drunken fit , by the perswasion of lais the harlot , burned it down to the ground . diod. 7. a turk having in one of their great feasts drunk wine too freely ( which is a thing forbidden in their law ) being apprehended and carryed before the gand visier , and there found guilty , was adjudged to have boiling lead poured into his mouth and ears , which was accordingly executed . turk . hist. p. 1332. 8. phocas a drunken , bloody and adulterous tyrant , was worthily slaughtered by heraclius , who cut off his hands and feet , and then his privy parts by piece-meal . 9. not long since a souldier in salisbury , in the midst of his health-drinking and carousing in a tavern , drank a health to the devil , saying , that if the devil would not come and pledge him , he would not believe that there was either god or devil . whereupon his companions strucken with horror , hastened out of the room ; and presently after hearing a hideous noise , and smelling a stinking favour , the vintner ran up into the chamber , and coming in he missed his guest ; and found the window broken , the iron bar in it bowed , and all bloody ; but the man was never heard of afterwards . 10. a young gentleman being drunk , as he rode homewards was thrown by his horse , and had his brains dashed out by the pomel of his sword. 11. anno christi 1629. there was one t. w. a notorious blasphemer and drunkard , upon a small occasion being angry with his wife , not daring to proffer violence to her , drew his knife and stabbed himself . 12. the same year one j. b. of ely a gentlemans coachman , being exceedingly given to swearing and drunkenness , drinking himself drunk on a sabbath-day at sermon-time , fell from his coach-box , and was killed by his horses . 13. anno christi , 1621. one r. b. of ely , who used to travel on the sabbath-dayes , seldom or never coming to church ; as he went to the market at st. ives being drunk , gods judgment overtook him ; for going up the river in his boat , he fell over into the water and was drowned . 14. anno christi 1618. one t. a. of godmanchester , being a common drunkard , was intreated by a neighbour to unpitch a load of hay : and being at that time drunk , the pitchfork slipt out of his hand , which he stooping to take up again , fell from the cart with his head downward ; and the fork standing with the tines upward , he fell directly upon them , which striking to his heart killed him immediately . 15. anno christi 1628. j. v. of godmanchester , a known drunkard and scoffer at religion , fell from the top of a pear ▪ tree and brake his neck . all these are attested by sundry godly ministers . 16. anno christi 1551. in bohemia five drunkards were quaffing , and blaspheming the name of god : and the picture of the devil being painted upon the wall , they drank healths to him , who the night after paid them their wages ; for they were found dead with their necks broken and quashed to pieces , as if a wheel had gone over them the blood running out of their mouths , nostrils , and ears in a lamentable manner . fincelius . 17. a vintner that accustomed himself to swearing and drunkenness , as he was upon the lords day standing in his door with a pot in his hand to invite guests , there came suddenly such a violent whirlewind as carryed him up into the air , after which he was never more seen . 18. armitus and cinanippus , two syracusians , being drunk , committed incest with their two daughters . plut. the like did lot , gen. 19. 33 , &c. 19. cleomenes king of laceaemonia , drinking himself drunken fell distracted , never recovering his wits again . 20. anacreon the poet , a notable drunkard , was choaked with the husk of a grape . 21. zeno the emperour was such a drunkard , that he would often lye as one dead for many hours , so that he grew odious to all , and to his own wife , who once sinding him in that case , caused him to be laid in a tomb , with a great stone on the top of it , where he was miserably pined to death : platina . 22. but a few years since in gloucester-shire , an horrid patricide was committed by another ungracious son , being drunken , upon his father , whom he desperately slew . 23. the like unnatural villany was committed by one purchas , an essex monster , upon the body of his mother , whom he slew for the same cause . 24. john maginus reports , that fliolmus king of the goths , was by his drunken servants thrown headlong into a great vessel of ale , and therein drowned . 25. plato , who elsewhere holds that men should be sober , and forbids drunkenness as an unseemly thing ; yet in the feasts celebrated to bacchus , he lets loose the reins to intemperancy , and thinks it then no fault at all to be drunk . 26. in the parish of castleterra in the county of cavan in ireland , a gentleman when he met with jovial comrades , used to drink healths , and to fling the glasses against the walls : he delighted also to contradict what ministers delivered in their sermons , and having heard one preach of the benefits and tryal of a justifying faith , after sermon he demanded of the preacher , whether he could remove mountains ? if i could see you do that , then ( said he ) i would believe you had faith , otherwise not ; for doth not the gospel say , if a man have faith but as a grain of mustard-seed , he shall say to mountains , be removed hence , and it shall be done ? but at length this gentleman was strucken with the small-pox , which got into his throat in such manner , that he could not swallow , nor let down a little beer to cool his excessive internal heat , wherewith being tormented he broke out into these expressions , to an honest man that stood by : o thomas , would i could now receive one of those glass-fulls of drink which formerly i have thrown against the walls in a frolick : and afterwards when he saw there was no remedy but die he must , he said again , o! that now i had faith like a grain of mustard-seed ! and a little after he deceased , in the fifty seventh year of his age . 27. we read of a drunkard who in the midst of his cups sold his soul to the devil for a tankard of wine : and the devil forthwith had his bargain . theat . hist. 28. the like of a woman , who at a whitson-ale fell a cursing god , having nothing but the devil in her mouth ; so long , till at last the devil came , and hoisting her up into the air , threw her down again in a place not for remote , where she was found dead . 29. acosta and benzo write of the west-indians , that they are exceedingly given to drunkenness , the people there for the most part delighting themselves beyond measure in intoxicating their brains in strong liquors ; in which mad and distempered fits they many times commit many salvage outrages , and unruly pranks one against another , and account it a matter of praise so to do : i saw ( saith acosta ) two men coming drunk out of a tavern , for a very trifle kill one another with the same sword. 30. alexander the great , when he was drunk , would hack , and hew , kill , and slay he cared not whom , and oft-times his very friends ; as he did clytus his dear friend , who had formerly saved his life , whom in a drunken mood he commanded presently to be slain : neither would he hearken to ptolomy and perdiccas , two of his great captains , who upon their knees would have begged one dayes respite for him : though the same alexander when he was sober , would have slain himself for having caused clytus to be slain . q. curt. 31. tenthio king of the illyrians , in his drunkenness slew his own brother pleuratus . polybius . 32. of bonosus the emperor it was said , that he was born , non ut vivat , sed ut bibat : not to live , but to drink : and when ( being overcome by probus ) he hanged himself ; it was said in scorn that a tankard hanged there , not a man. 33. what a beast was marcus antonius , that he wrote a book in commendation of his great strength to bear strong drink ? 34. philip king of macedon in his drunkenness once passing an unrighteous sentence , the woman concerned therein appealed from philip now drunk , to phiilp when he should be sober again . 35. the carthagenians made a law that no magistrate of theirs should drink wine . 36. the persians permitted their kings to be drunk but one day in a year . 37. solon made a law at athens , that drunkenness in a prince should be punished with death , prov. 3. 1 , 5. 38. domitius the father of nero , slew liberius an honest roman because he refused to take off his cups as he commanded him . 39. amos 6. 6. that drink wine in bowls : not in cups , pots , or chalices , but in vessels of price , and largest receipt , that they may be accounted , and called ( as young cicero was ) tricongii , such as can drink whole ones , and no small ones neither . 40. diotimus of athens , for his excessive drinking was termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , tundish . 41. aeneas silvius tells us of one henry earl of goricia , who having two sons , drunkards both , was wont oft-times in the night to call upon them , and ask whether they were a thirsty ? and when they gave him no answer , he would himself carry wine unto them , pressing them to drink , and if by reason of sleepiness or late excess , they refused , he would return in a rage to his wife , and call her whore , saying they were bastards , and not his sons , who could sleep all night without being athirst . 42. vortigern king of the brittains , being well warmed with wine , was ensnared by the daughter of hengist the saxon , which proved the undoing of the brittish nation . pol. virg. hist. ang. 43. venter mero aestuante cito despumat in libidines : a belly or stomach boiling with wine , doth suddenly foam up into a scum of sinful lusts and foul affections : hierom. 44. bonzo relates of the indians of peru , that when they have drunk away that little reason wherewith they are endowed , they use to fall to immodest embracings , without respect had to mothers , daughters , brothers , sisters , or any other relations whatsoever . 45. saint jerom could not be perswaded that a drunkard could be a chast man. 46. a certain young man that had devoted himself to a pious and retired course of life , was much assaulted by the devil , by sundry temptations , and pressed to make choice of one of these three sins : once to be drunk , or to lye with his neighbours wife , or to kill his neighbour ; and the temptation so far prevailed , that at the last he chose the first ; ( viz. ) once to be drunk , as deeming it the least sin : but when the devil had drawn him to that , at the same time both the other sins were committed by him . 47. ad universa , vel crudelitatis , vel turpitudinis facinora perpetranda facilis invenitur via , cui nulla sobriae mentis ratio , sed ebrietas dominatur . a drunken man is easily drawn to commit any villany : bern. 48. pausanias makes mention of a company of young men in greece , who upon a time contrary to the command of their captain aristomenes , being drunk , offered violence to the chastity of certain young virgins ; and so violent they were therein , till the sword and death put an end to the same . 49. the cruel tyrant lucius being drunk , became like a mad horse ; and when he could not prevail to satisfie his lust upon the daughter of philodemus , he barbarously slew her flying for shelter into her fathers arms. plut. 50. what a beast was darius king of persia , who commanded this inscription to be set on his tomb : i was able to hunt lustily , to drink wine soundly , and to bear it bravely . strabo . 51. saint augustine in his confessions , tells us a story of his mother , who by sipping a little wine at first when she filled the cup , came by degrees to be a tippling gossip , and at last to drink off her whole cups . sin that is modest at first , afterwards growes shameless . 52. in lacedemon , crete and carthage , the name of a drunkard was so hateful and contemptible , that such as were found guilty of this sin were disabled to bear any publick office , and thrust out of the senate ( if they were magistrates ) with shame and ignominy . alex. ab alex. 53. levinus lemnius writes of the dutchmen , the high-germans especially , and that part of the low countries that borders upon them , that they never account that man worth whistling for , that will not strenuum se potatorem praebere ; upon all occasions prove himself strong to drink strong drink . 54. suetonius relates , that novellius torquatus was highly honoured amongst the romans , for that he could drink three gallons of wine at a draught without taking his breath : for that he fairly drank off his liquor and left no snuff behind ; and after he had drunk so much , he neither stammered in his speech , nor unburthened his stomach by vomiting ; for which he was preferred to be proconsul of syria . pliny . 55. also firmus who assumed the title of emperour in the absence of aurelian , when he had drunk off two buckets of wine , went forthwith to a banquet , and seemed as sober as if he had drunk none at all . vopiscus in vita firm. 56. flaccus and piso had dignities bestowed upon them , the one being made a proconsul , the other governour of the city of rome , for that they were strong to pour in strong drink : suet. 57. one hulderick a bohemian , told frederick the emperour , that he trained up his sons to drink great quantities of wine without disturbance : thou art wise , said the emperour , the same thing did mithidrates ; but if it happen that i have a son , if that son shall not hate excess of wine , i shall hate him . aeneas sil. 58. anno christi 764. london and york , donwick and doncaster , with many other places in this land were consumed with fire , ( saith the historian : ) if any one ask the cause , we can render none more probable than this , that it was a judgement of god upon them , for their gluttony and drunkenness . antiq. brit. p. 291. 59. anno christi 1567. tir-owen the irish rebel , was such a drunkard , that when his body was immoderately inflamed with drinking strong drink and usque-bagh , he used many times to be set in the earth up to the chin to cool himself . camb. eliz. 60. luxury is ordinarily the companion of idolatry , as ex. 32. 6. 1 cor. 10. 7. rev. 18. 13 , 14. o monachi , vestri stomachi , &c. at paris and lovane , the best wine is called vinum theologicum , the divinity wine : it 's also called vinum cos : coloris , odoris , saporis optimi . 61. drunkenness is a detestable vice in any , but especially in men of place and power , prov. 31. 4. woe be to those drunken vice-gods ( as in the worst sence they may be best called : ) wo to the very crown of their pride in drinking down many , isa. 28. 1. as marcus antonius wrote , or rather spued out a book concerning his own abilities to bear strong drink ; darius also boasted of the same faculty in his very epitaph , as we saw before . 62. drunkenness in a king is a capital sin , and makes the land reel : witness belshazzar , carousing in the bowls of the sanctuary to the honour of shar his drunken god . 63. alexander the great drunk himself to death , and killed forty one more by excessive drinking , to get the crown of one hundred eighty pounds weight , which he had provided for him that drank most . plut. 64. tiberius the emperour , for his tipling was called biberius . 65. erasmus for the same cause called eccius , jeccius : for , as he lived a shameful drunkard , so being nonplust at ratisbon by melancton , he drank more than was fit that night , at the bishop of mundina's lodgings ( who had store of the best italian wines ; ) and so fell into a feaver , whereof he dyed : jo. man. l. com. 66. drunkenness is a flattering evil , a sweet poyson , a cunning circe that besots the soul , destroyes the body , dolores gignit in capite , in stomacho , in toto corpore acerrimos : breeds grievous diseases in the head , in the stomach , and in the whole man : at last it bites like a serpent , and stings like an adder , prov. 23. 32. the drunkard saith as the vine in jothams parable , non possum relinquere vinum meum . take away my liquor , you take away my life : but at last it proves like the wine mentioned by moses , deut. 32. 33. the poyson of dragons , and the cruel venom of asps. trap. 67. austin brings in the drunkard saying , malle se vitam quam vinum eripi : and ambrose tells us of one theotinus , who being told by his physicians , that much quaffing would make him blind ; vale lumen amicum , said he ; farewell sweet eyes , if ye will bear no wine , ye are not eyes for me : he had rather lose his sight than his sin ; his soul than his lust , 2 pet. 2. 14. psal. 11. 6. woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink , that continue untill night till wine enflame them : isa. 5. 11. more forreign examples of drunkenness and drunkards . 1. john manlius , in his common-places , p. 244. tells us of three abominable drunkards , who drank so long till one of them fell down stark dead ; and yet the other two nothing terrified with such a dreadful example of divine vengeance , went on to drink , and poured the dead mans part into him as he lay by them . 2. darius boasted of the same faculty in his very epitaph . 3. the greeks , when they met at feasts or banquets , drink small draughts at first , which by degrees they increased till they came to the heighth of intemperancy . hence graecari , and as merry as a greek . 4. minos king of crete , ordered that his subjects should not drink one to another , unto drunkenness . 5. seneca calls drunkenness a voluntary madness ; another calls it a noon-day-devil . 6. cato that was a most severe censurer of other mens manners , had this objected against him ; quod nocturnis potationibus indulgeret : that by night he would drink soundly . 7. i was once with a drunkard ( saith mine author , a godly minister ) that lay a dying , and after i had prayed with him , in came one of his old companions in sin , and asked him , how he did ; at which he was ready to gnash his teeth ; and made to me this dreadful reflection concerning him : o that , that was the wicked wretch that drew me away ; if it had not been for him , i had not been in so lamentable a case upon my death-bed . 8. bonosus a britain , and bred up in spain , usurped the empire of rome in the reign of probus ; of whom it is written ▪ that he would drink so much wine , as ten great drinkers could not drink so much : and therewithall , he had two wonderful properties : the one was that how much soever he drank , he was never drunk : the other was , that when it pleased him , he could piss it out as fast as he poured it in , without retaining any jot within his body . being overcome by probus , he hang'd himself . the emperour aurelian was wont to say of him , that bonosus was not born to live , but to drink . imperial hist. page 211. 9. tiberus nero made novellus tricongius pro-consul , for that he could drink three pottles of wine together with one breath . 10. he also preferred lucius piso to the government of the city of rome , because he could sit drinking with him continually for two whole dayes and nights together . suetonius . 11. to prevent drunkenness , and the evil consequents of it , the carthaginians forbad their magistrates all use of wine . 12. solon punished drunkenness in a ruler with death . 13. anno christi 1578. february 10. in the countrey of s●aben , about eight persons that were citizens and citizens sons ( whose names my author setteth down ) met together at a tavern , whereof the masters name was anthony huge , on a sabbath morning , where they drank themselves drunk , and then began to blaspheme god , and to scoff at the host ; who advised them to leave drinking , and to go to church to hear the word preached ; at which they not only continued to mock , but went on in their drinking ; when suddenly the devil came in among them in the habit of a cavalier , who drinking to them , set their mouths in such a fire , that these drunkards not only became amazed thereat , but also after a miserable manner were all strangled to death . stephen batemen , professor of divinity . 14. anno christi 1556. in the town of st. gallus , in switzerland , there was one peter besler , who was born at rotmund , but was now a servant to a citizen , whose habitation was near unto st. gallus : this dissolute young man was much given to the beastly sin of drunkenness ; and upon trinity-sunday , which was may the 21 st , he together with some of his companions went to the town of sangal , there to be merry : and when they had drunk freely , this young man began to rail at , and to quarrel with his companions ; and using many blasphemies against god , he added this execration also : if i serve my master any longer , i give my body and soul to the devil . when he had staid there all night , in the morning awaking , he began to think what words he had uttered the night before ; yet having no other means of subsistence , he resolved to return to his masters service ; but going out of the city , when he was now not far from his masters house , a man met him clad in black , and fearful to behold ; who said unto him , go to ( good fellow , ) i am now ready to take that which is my right , and which thou gavest me yesterday : which when he had said , taking the fellow by the hand , ( who was amazed with horror , and altogether astonished ) he threw him to the ground , and so vanished . not long after this , this miserable young man being found by some of the neighbours , had his hands and feet drawn together ; and being brought to a lodging , he had the use of all his limbs taken from him , and so continued till he dyed miserably . ibid. felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum . it 's good to be warned by other mens harms . healths drank one drinks off a pottle pot of sack and dyes within two hours after . one drownd in a shallow brook of water being drunk , his horse standing by . 5. or 6. drank healths in a strange manner and dyed one after another in few weeks . an exceeding drunkard in pembrock shire being drunk , broke himself all to pieces from an high rock . more examples worthy of serious consideration . there is a very remarkable story published by mr. robert abbot minister some years since of cranebrook in kent , concerning one william rogers an apothecary there , that was exceeding much given to drinking , and sabbath breaking : he was in his general course , as he relates of him , a young man of a sweet and pleasing temper : it was reported , that the devil never abused a better nature ; and he was observed never to swear or curse in all his life , except once ; but was often admonished and perswaded by mr. abbot to come to the church on the sabbath-dayes ; at last he was prevailed with to come , though he had often promised , and failed : the lords day before in the morning , when as he said he was ready to come to church , he was taken sick , and betook himself to his bed ; it was but as a fit of an ague , which being over , he was the next morning in his old course again ; but about the middle of the week after , the messenger of death came , and mr. abbot forthwith addressed himself to him in his chamber , saying , oh how often have you deceived god , your own soul , and me ! and what is now to be done ? i fear you will dye , and then what will become of you ? his sickness so prevailed , that it emptied him of any hopes of life , and filled him with thoughts of his present guilt , and future judgment before the great god , who is a consuming fire : he apprehending his own misery , made it known to him and others ; there was too great a fire within to be smothered , it burned in his own soul , and it lightened from his heart and lips , into the ears and hearts of those friends that were about him . one while he cryes out of his sins , saying , i have been a fearful drunkard , pouring in one draught after another , till one draught could not keep down another ; i now would be glad if i could take the least of gods creatures which i have abused : i have neglected my patients , which have put their lives in my hands , and how many souls have i thus murthered ! i have wilfully neglected gods house , service and worship , and though i purposed to go , god strikes me thus before the day of my promise comes , because i am unworthy to come among gods people again . another while he falls to wishing , oh , that i might burn a long time in that fire , ( pointing to the fire before him ) so i might not burn in hell ! oh that god would grant me but one year or a month , that the world might see with what an heart i have promised to god my amendment ! oh that god would try me a little ! but i am unworthy . another while he speaks to his companions , praying all to be warned by him to forsake their wicked wayes , lest they go to hell , as he must do . he forgot not his servant that was young , calls him to him , and tells him , that he had been a wicked master to him ; but be warned by me , said he ; you have a friend that hath an iron furnace , which burns hot a long time , but if you give your self to my sins , you shall be burned in the furnace of hell , an hotter furnace , millions of millions of ages : therefore look to your self , and be warned by my example , who must be burned in hell for ever ; i must to the furnace of hell , millions of millions of ages . the minister offered to him the comforts of the gospel ▪ promises of the largest size , shewed him that god was delighted to save souls , and not to destroy them : but he cryed , it was too late , i must be burned in hell : he pressed him with tears not to cast away that soul for which christ died ; and told him , christ rejected none that did not reject him : he answered , he had cast off christ , and therefore he must go to hell. he often complained , that former counsels and prayers might have done him good , but now it was too late ; he was no swearer , whoremonger , thief , no scoffer at religion , no perjured wretch , nor wilful lier ; yet when conscience was awakened , and sate as judge on him , he confessed his being given to drunkenness , and neglect of mens bodies , and neglect of prayer and other dutyes , hearing the word , and keeping the sabbath-day : which caused him to pass this heavy doom on himself , and at last in idleness of thoughts and talk he ended his miserable life : and whatsoever god hath done with his soul , we are bound to hope the best ; this sad example is a warning-piece from heaven , to warn all young men to leave off their evil courses , lest a worse thing befall them . he desired others might be warned by his example . the relation of him the said william rogers was published by mr. abbot , called , the young mans warning piece . i shall here give you a short relation how nathaniel butler , who murthered his friend john knight in milk-street , london , august 6. ann. 1657. behaved himself . nathaniel butler , declared that before this murther committed , he was addicted to divers sins , as drunkenness , &c. which he himself freely confessed . for instance : 1. he was a great company-keeper , and given to gameing very much ; whereby he gain'd money and several watches of young men , one whereof he restor'd to the owner after his conscience was awakened in prison . 2. he enticed some servants to purloin from their masters , and sell the goods ; then would he and they go together , and spend the money among themselves . 3. he lived in fornication , frequenting the company and the houses of harlots ; insomuch that ( as he himself under his own hand informed me ) he judged this very sin of whoredom did draw him on to that of shedding blood . concerning which fact i shall now speak , as also concerning his carriage in prison , and at his execution , being an eye and ear witness thereof . 4. this nathaniel butler , came from alten in hampshire , where he was born ; and at the time of his apprehension , was an apprentice with one mr. goodday , a drawer of cloth in carter-lane , london ; during which time he became acquainted with one john knight , and apprentice also in the same city . these two were much together , but especially when mr. worth ( john knight's master ) was gone to bristol-fair ; then did these two young men lye together several nights at mr. worth's house , at the rose in milk-street ; where in the shop , on wednesday morning being the sixth of august 1657. nathaniel butler seeing some bags of money , he was thereupon tempted to take away the life of his friend and bed-fellow , that he might securely convey away the money which he had now seen in the till of the shop . after they had been abroad that day , at night they lay again together , the bloody design running still in the mind of bulter : he intending about the dead of the night ( for so he expressed himself to me ) to destroy the young man by cutting his throat : accordingly he took his knife in his hand , but his heart would not suffer him to do it ; then he laid down the knife again ; yea , he took up and laid down his knife several times ( so he told me ) before he acted his cruelty : but in the morning very early , he did indeed fall very violently and inhumanely on the youth , who lay harmlesly asleep upon the bed . the first wound not being mortal , awakened him , whereupon he struggled and made a noise ( not considerable enough ) which was heard into another room of the same house . then butler chopt his fist into the mouth of the young man , and so they two lay striving and tumbling very near half an hour , before the fatal blow was given ; but at length , he did most barbarously murder the young-man , giving him a very ghastly deadly wound cross the throat : and then he went down , taking away out of the shop a summ of money in two bags , being about one hundred and ten pounds : and so with his double guilt of robbery and murder , leaving his bloody shirt behind him , and a lock of his own hair in the hand of the dead young-man , which hair was pulled off in their striving together , one to commit , the other to prevent the fact ; after he had so done , he went to his masters house in carter-lane , where he privately laid the money in a new trunk that he bought with part of the money . this murderer abode for certain dayes , that is from ▪ thursday to saturday , at his masters house unsuspected , following his business at home , as formerly . 5. many thoughts and jealousies were working in men , who should be the murderer : and in a few dayes , one in milk-street ( the street where the murder was done ) knowing that butler used sometimes to be with the young man who was now murder'd , went to butlers masters house in carter-lane , and spake with him , by whose words and carriage , he supposed he might be guilty , and so caused him to be apprehended : but yet for some small time , the said butler denied the fact ; but at length confessed , that he , and he only did it . after his apprehension , he was brought before the lord mayor of london , to whom he declared the murder , and the circumstances of it , crying out for a little time for his soul , and much lamenting his sin. that night he was committed to newgate , and there lay exceedingly startled about the state of his soul , saying often , what will become of my poor soul ! what shall i do to be saved ! beginning now to see the sinfulness of sin . whom i may compare to manasses in three respects . 1. as to matter of fact ; for manasses shed much innocent blood , 2 kings 21. 16. so did he shed ( too much ) innocent blood . 2. he something resembled manasses in his imprisonment , mentioned 2 chr. 33. 11. as manasses was taken and bound with fetters , so was he clapt in the hole or dungeon of newgate , with heavy irons about his legs . 3. manasses and he were one and the same in this sense , that when they were in affliction , they besought the lord god , and humbled themselves greatly before the god of their fathers . for this great offendor could often say , he could never be humbled enough . upon the 13 of august , when he was arraigned at the sessions in the old-baily , he pleaded guilty to the indictments , with very much shame , confusion of face and sorrow of heart : and on friday the 15 of august , he demeaned himself very humbly before the bench , heartily submitting to the sentence of death that then passed upon him , saying , he had destroyed the image of the eternal god ; alluding ( as i verily believe ) to those words in gen. 6. 9. — for in the image of god , &c. after his sentence , he was conveyed back to prison ; penitently acknowledging , that he had neglected the good word of god , and therefore was the longer kept off ( through ignorance of the gospel ) from closing with christ jesus . but after a few dayes discourse with several ministers and others , who opened the scriptures to him , he began to understand ( through the grace of god ) the word of grace . and though he had many good books brought to him by divers visiting friends , yet he chiefly looked into the holy scriptures themselves , and found very much advantage , light and peace , by these following passages out of the old testament , viz. 2 sam. 12. 9. where nathan spake sharply to david , for despising the commandment of the lord , to do evil in the sight of the lord , in killing uriah the hittite with the sword , vers . 13. david said to nathan , i have sinned against the lord ; and nathan said to david , the lord also hath put away thy sin . from hence he understood the readiness of god to forgive confessing , repenting sinners , though they are guilty of innocent blood . job 33. 27 , 28 , he ( the lord ) looketh upon men ( oh that men would look after the lord ! ) and if an t say , i have sinned and perverted that which was right , and it profited me not ; he ( that is the lord ) will deliver his soul from going into the pit , and his life shall see the light . isa. 45. 18 , 19. — i said not unto the seed of jacob , seek ye me in vain ? isa. 55. 7. let the wicked forsake his way , and the unrighteous man his thoughts , and let him return to the lord , and he will abundantly pardon ; the word abundantly he used to pronounce with an emphasis ; for he saw ( his eyes being now anointed with spiritual eye salve ) that he had multiplied sins exceedingly , and that he stood in absolute need of the lords abundant multiplied pardons : whereof he had good hope through this good word of isaiah . ezek. 18. 23. have i any pleasure at all that the wicked should die , saith the lord god , and not that he should return from his wayes and live ? 30. — repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions ; so iniquity shall not be your ruine . 31. cast away from you all your transgressions , whereby ye have transgressed , and make you a new heart , and a new spirit ; for why will you die , o house of israel ? 32. for i have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth , wherefore turn your selves , and live ye . ezek. 33. 11. say unto them , as i live , saith the lord , ( here the poor prisoner would note to his comfort , that a repenting sinner had not onely the word and promise of god for forgiveness , but the oath of god , to give such a sinner the greater assurance of pardon , ) i have no pleasure in the death of the wicked , but that the wicked turn from his wayes and live : turn ye , turn ye , ( see the importunity of god with poor sinners for the good of their souls ) from your evil wayes ; for why will ye die , o house of israel ? micah 7. 18. was a place pleasant to his soul. who is a god like unto thee , that pardoneth iniquity , and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage ? he retaineth not his anger for ever , because he delighteth in mercy , vers. 19. he will turn again , ( as one doth when his anger is gone ) he will have compassion upon us , he will subdue our iniquities , and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the sea. now i shall give you a short list of some new-testament texts , whereby the lord conveyed counsel and consolation to this doubting , staggering , poor wretch . mat. 18. 11. — for the son of man is come to save that which was lost . joh. 3. 14 , 15 , 16. and as moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness , even so must the son of man be lifted up , that whosoever believeth in him , should not perish , but have eternal life ; for god so loved the world , that whosoever ( this word [ whosoever ] he spake with joy ) believeth in him , should not perish , but have everlasting life : now ( saith nathaniel butler ) i am one to whom this word speaketh ; and therefore god gave the lord jesus christ for my soul ; i believe in him , and therefore i trust to live eternally through him , according to the gracious terms of the gospel . john 6. 37. — and him that cometh to me i will in no wise ( here he would repeat and reiterate these words in no wise cast out , in no wise , in no wise ) cast out . 1 tim. 1. 15. this is a faithful saying , and worthy of all acceptation , that christ jesus came into the world to save sinners , of whom i am chief . 1 tim. 2. 5 , 6. for there is one god , and one mediator between god and men , the man christ jesus , who gave himself a ransom for all , to be testified in due time . in hearing , reading , and conferring upon these ( and many more ) scriptures , he would often say to me and others , these are good scriptures , brave scriptures ; are they not brave scriptures ? he would make very diligent and frequent search into his soul , concerning the sincerity of his sorrow , and would not easily believe that his repentance was true , or that he had right to the precious promises of the gospel . but by much speaking to him by many good people , that he would apply christ , and also by seeking unto god for a spirit of faith for him , he did begin to act a faith of recumbency and adherence , being ( as he often said ) perswaded the lord jesus christ was able to save to the uttermost , and willing to save such as come unto god by him ; yet he could not come up to that full assurance of hope and confidence , as he desired ; and we also desired heartily on his behalf . yet for some certain dayes before his suffering death , it pleased the god of all comfort , to give him joy and consolation , and sometimes strong consolation , insomuch that he would at times express very great inward gladness , which all that knew his former mournings , were glad to see , and glorified god for giving him the joy of his salvation ; for he was so satisfied concerning the favour and mercy of god towards him in jesus christ , that he rather now desired death then feared it ; as seeing death through jesus christ without a sting . he was executed in cheapside against milk-street end , and died penitently : see more at large in the books of nathaniel butler and william rogers . here followeth a true relation of the wicked life , and shameful-happy death of thomas savage ; imprisoned , justly condemned , and twice executed at ratcliff , for his bloody fact in killing his fellow-servant , on wednesday , octob. 28. 1668. thomas savage , born in the parish of giles in the fields , he was put out apprentice to mr. collins , vintner , at the ship-tavern in ratcliff , where he lived about the space of one year and three quarters : in which time he manifested himself to all that knew him , to be a meer monster in sin : in all that time he never once knew what it was to hear one whole sermon ; but used to go in at one door , and out at the other ; and accounted them fools that could spare so much time from sin , as two or three hours on a lords day , to spend in the lords service . he spent the sabbath commonly at the ale-house , or rather at a base house , with that vile strumpet hannah blay , which was the cause of his ruine ; he was by a young man ( now gone to sea ) first enticed to go drink there , and after that he went alone , and now and then used to bring her a bottle or two of wine , which satisfied not her wicked desires ; but she told him , if he would frequent her house , he must bring money with him : he told her often , he could bring none but his masters , and he never wronged his master of two-pence in his life : still she enticed him to take it privately : he replyed , he could not do it , because the maid was alwayes at home with him : hang her jade , saith this impudent slut , knock her brains out , and i will receive the money ; this she many times said ; and that day that he committed the murther , he was with her in the morning , and she made him drunk with burnt brandy , and he wanted one groat to pay of his reckoning : she then again perswaded him to knock the maid on the head , and she would receive the money : he going home between twelve and one of the clock ; his master standing at the street-door , did not dare to go in that way , but climbed over a back door , and cometh into the room where his fellow-servants were at dinner : o saith the maid to him , sirrah , you have been now at this bawdy-house , you will never leave till you are undone by them : he was much vexed at her ; and while he was at dinner , the devil entred so strong into him , that nothing would satisfie him but he must kill her ; and no other way , but with the hammer ; to which end , when his master was gone with all the rest of his family to church , leaving only the maid and this boy at home ; he goeth into the bar , fetcheth the hammer , and taketh the bellows in his hand , and sitteth down by the fire , and there knocketh the bellows with the hammer : the maid saith to him ; sure the boy is mad , sirrah , what do you make this noise for ? he said nothing , but went from the chair , and lay along in the kitchin window , and knocked with the hammer there ; and on a sudden threw the hammer with such force at the maid , that hitting her on the head she fell down presently , screeching out : then he taketh up the hammer three times , and did not dare to strike her any more , at last the devil was so great with him , that he taketh the hammer and striketh her many blows with all the force he could , and even rejoyced that he had got the victory over her : which done , he immediately taketh the hammer , and with it strikes at the cupboard-door in his masters chamber , which being but slit deal presently flew open , and thence he taketh out a bag of money , and putting it upon his arm , under his cloak , he went out at a back-door straightway to this base house again : when he came thither , the slut would fain have seen what he had under his cloak , and knowing what he had done , would very fain have had the money ; he gave her half a crown , and away he went without any remorse for what he had done . going over a stile , he sat down to rest himself , and then began to think with himself ; lord what have i done ! and he would have given ten thousand worlds he could have recalled the blow . after this , he was in so much horrour , that he went not one step but he thought every one he met came to take him . he got that night to greenwich , and lay there ; telling the people of the house that he was to go down to gravesend : that night he rose and walked about , and knew not what to do , conscience so flew in his face : the mistress of the house perceiving the lad to have money , and not sealed up , said , i wish this lad came by this money honestly . the next morning he going away towards woolliedge , the mistriss of the house could not be satisfied , but sent for him back , and told him , sweet heart , i fear you came not by this money honestly . yes , indeed mistris , saith he , i did ; for i am carrying of it down to gravesend to my master , a wine-cooper . we live upon london-bridge , and if you please to send any one to my mistris , i will leave my money with you . so there were some people going to london , and he writ a note to send to his mistris , and he left the money with the woman of the house , and went his way , wandring toward woolliedge , and there was in the ship-yard ; about which time news came to greenwich of the murther that was committed at ratcliff by a youth , upon his fellow-servant , and that a bag of money was taken away : the mistris of the house forthwith concluded that sure it was the same youth that was at her house , and that was the money : whereupon she sent men out presently to seek him : who found him in an ale-house , where he had called for one pot of beer , and was laid down with his head on the table and faln asleep : one of the men calling him by his name , tom , saith he , did you not live at ratcliff ? he said , yes : and did you not murther your fellow-servant ? he confessed it : and you took so much money from your master , he acknowledged all : then said they , you must go along with us : he said , yes , with all my heart . so they went forthwith to greenwich , to the house where he lay that night : where when he came , he met his master with some friends , and when his master spake to him of it , he was not much affected at first , but after a little while burst out into many tears : thence he was conveyed to the justice at ratcliff , where he fully confessed the fact again , and by him was committed close prisoner in the goal of newgate , where mr. h. b. ( who after some acquaintance with him , had this preceeding narrative from his own mouth ) came to see and speak with him : and he seemed but little sensible of what he had done . are you ( said he ) the person that committed the murther upon the maid at ratcliff ? he said , yes : o what think you of your condition ? what do you think will become of your precious soul ? you have by this sin not only brought your body to the grave , but your soul to hell , without gods infinite mercy : were you not troubled for the fact when you did it ? not for the present , sir , said he ; but soon after i was , when i began to think with my self what i had done . the next time he asked him , whether he were sorry for the fact ? he said , wringing his hands , and striking his breast , with tears in his eyes , yes , sir , for it cuts me to the heart to think that i should take away the life of a poor innocent creature ; and that is not all , but for any thing i know , i have sent her soul to hell : o how can i think to appear before gods bar , when she shall stand before me , and say , lord , this wretch took away my life , and gave me not the least space that i might turn to thee : he gave me no warning at all , lord : o then what will become of me ? soon after the imprisonment of this thomas savage , in newgate ; upon the desire of one of his friends , mr. r. f. and t. v. went to him in the prison , and had liberty , with much readiness from the keepers to discourse with him : they asked him , if he were the person that had murthered the maid ? he answered , that he was ; they did then open to him the hainous nature of that sin , endeavouring to set it home upon his conscience , telling him of the express law of god , thou shalt not kill , and the express threatnings , that whosoever sheddeth mans blood , by man shall his blood be shed . they spake to him of the law of the land , and the punishment of death which would certainly be inflicted upon him ; that he had but a few weeks more to live , and then he would be tryed , and condemned , and executed : but they told him , that the punishment of the temporal death was but small in comparison with the punishment of eternal death in hell , which he had deserved , and was exposed unto . they told him , that so soon as death should make a separation between his soul and body , that his soul must immediately appear before the dreadful tribunal of the sin-revenging god , and there receive its final doom , and be irreversibly sentenced to depart from the presence of the lord , into everlasting fire , if he were found under the guilt of this , or any other sin . they asked him if he knew what hell was ? telling him what a fearful thing it would be for him to fall into the hands of the living god ; how intolerable the immediate expressions of gods wrath would be upon his soul , what horrour and anguish he would there be filled withal , and how he would be bound up in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day ; and then told him of the glorious appearance of the lord jesus christ to judgment : that soul and body should be then joyned together , and condemned together , and punished together with such exquisite torments as never entred into the heart of man to conceive ; declaring the extremity and the eternity of the torments of hell , which were the just demerit of his sins . then they asked him , whether he had any hopes of escaping this dreadful punishment of hell ? he answered , that he had : they enquired the grounds of his hopes ? he told them , that he repented of his fault , and hoped god would have mercy on his soul. they asked him , whether he thought his repentance could procure for him a pardon ? he knew no other way . they told him that god was just , and his justice must be satisfied : and there was no way for him to do it , but by undergoing the eternal torments of hell : and did he know no way of satisfying god's justice besides ? and pacifying his anger that was kindled against him ? no , he knew not any : and yet did he hope to be saved ? he answered , yes . they enquired whether ever he had experience of a gracious change wrought in him . herein he could give no account , and yet hoped to be saved . they told him his hopes were unsound , having no good foundation : and he would find himself disappointed : that it was not his repentance , his tears , and prayers ( though he ought to use them as means ) that would save him , if he fixed the anchor of his hope upon them . that if he hoped to be saved in the condition which for the present he was in , he would certainly be damned : that he must cast away all those groundless hopes he had conceived , and endeavour to despair in himself , that being pricked and pained at heart , through the apprehensions of the wrath of god ready to fall upon him , and seeing no possibility of flying and escaping , if he looked only to himself , he might cry out , what shall i do to be saved ? and enquire after a saviour . and then they spake to him of the lord jesus christ , and the way of salvation by him , which before he was sottishly ignorant of , as if he had been brought up in a countrey of infidels , and not of christians . the words spoken to him by these two ministers , seemed to take little impression upon him whilest they were present , yet after they were gone , the lord did begin to work , and he did acknowledge to mr. b. that two had been ▪ with him ( he knew not their names ) whose words were like arrows shot into his heart , and he did wish he had those words in writing , especially one expression of t. v. that he would not be in his condition for ten thousand worlds , did affect and so affright him , that he said it made his hair stand on end . mr. vincent , mr. francklin , mr. doolittle , mr. janeway , discoursed with him , and he suffered very penitently and chearfully at ratcliff near his masters house . we do not read of any more of all the drunkards and debauched persons , that were converted , but those two , nathaniel butler and thomas savage , whom god gave true repentance unto . a common drunkard , is the fittest man to make a debauched . health-drinker of , they are so near akin to one another , that there is little difference : you can hardly know one from another , and it is seldom seen , that a health is begun for his majesty , or his highness the duke of york , till the feasters are well entred in there glasses of wine first . this i can witness , that one evening this winter , two or three drunken companions met another drunken man in the street , and did ask him if he would drink the dukes health : he answered presently , yea , i 'le drink any mans health : is not the king and duke much beholden to such for their love , that can shew it in no better way ? we are commanded , and it s our duty , to fear god and to honour the king ; and he that truly doth so , will pray heartily to god to bless and preserve his majesty from the danger of all popish and sham-plots : and this way is better to shew their true love to the king , than in a sinful custom of healths , which provokes the king of kings to send judgments on the kingdom . read dr. stillingfleets text , of his fast-sermon before the house of commons , novem. 13. 1 sam. 12. 24 , 25. some audacious abominable health-drinkers were so wicked as to drink a health to the great prince of darkness , their father the devil ; and it is credibly . reported , he came boldly amongst them and carryed away some of them , as bold as he was . one being told , that unless he left off his drunkenness and whoring he would loose his sight : he answered thus , tum valeat lumen amicum , — then farewell sweet light. one was put to his choice , which of these sins he would choose to commit , either to be drunk , or to kill his father , or to lie with his mother : he refused the two last , and was drunk , and then committed the other two . at one great feast in the city since his majesties happy restoration , i heard they were so mad , in their frolick cups of wine and healths , as to drink down small live fishes , and make fish-ponds in there bellyes : it 's a wonderful mercy it proved not their last drinking . so to abuse themselves and gods creatures , by drunkenness and gluttony , it is the way to provoke god to send a famine on the land ; for such wanton excessive doings . remember the plague time . there died , in that one year of the plague , anno , 1665. 68596. in london and liberties . and let us not forget the lamentable fire time , the 2 d septem . 1666. as it was computed , there was consumed to ashes , thirteen thousand and two hundred houses , with a vast deal of goods and rich commodities , to the undoing of many thousands , besides the ghastly walls of eighty nine parish churches and stately houses and halls , with the royal exchange , which cost almost an hundred thousand pounds the new building it again . you can expect but a brief touch of things in this paper , but it may serve for a memento , and a caveat to take heed of sin , that is the plague ( or cause ) of all plagues and judgments in the world ; and it caused god to drown the old world , and to rain down fire and brimstone on sodom , five cities together ; and he is able to do the like again to any nation that provoke him . we may fear this immoderate rain and flood in the countrey ; and beyond the seas a while since , how many have been drowned , persons and estates by it ! it speaks aloud to england . god threatens to punish a people four seven times more , lev. 26. 18 , 21 , 24 , 28. v. except they repent . and we ought to fear that great god , that is able easily to kill both body and soul , and cast them into hell-fire . drunkards are named amongst the greatest sinners that shall be shut out of heaven . ten several arguments to prove that drunkenness is a great , a dangerous and a woful sin. arg. 1. that drunkenness is expresly against the command of god. ( 1. ) drunkenness is plainly and expresly forbidden in gods word , eph. 5. 18. be not drunk with wine . luke 21. 34. take heed to your selves , lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting , and drunkenness . rom. 13. 13. let us walk honestly as in the day , not in rioting and drunkenness . the drunkard cannot plead ignorance , that he did not know drunkenness to be a sin ; he cannot plead for himself as peter did for the jews that put christ to death , act. 3. 17. i wot that through ignorance ye did it , as did also your rulers . 1 cor. 2. 8. for had they known it , they would not have crucified the lord of glory . drunkards sin against light ; both against the light of nature , for nature teacheth us that it is a shameful thing for a man to be drunk : and against the light of gods word , and that is a great aggravation of sin , to sin against the light of gods word : sins of ignorance are as it were no sins , compared with sins against knowledge . joh. 15. 22. if i had not come and spoken to them they had not had sin , but now they have no cloak for their sin. drunkards cast gods word behind their backs , and trample his commandments under their feet : god saith , be not drunk with wine : take heed left your hearts be overcharged with drunkenness : but they say in effect , though not in words , we will not regard these commandments of god ; let god say and do what he will , we will take our fill of wine and strong drink : drunkards and other sinners that know gods will , and will not do it , contemn and dispise god. psal. 10. 13. wherefore doth the wicked contemn god ? drunkards are guilty of rebellion against god , who is king of kings and lord of lords : for sinning against the light of gods word , is accounted rebellion ; job 24. 13. they are of those that rebell against the light : and that is a hainous sin , to be stubborn and rebellious against the god of heaven . 1 sam. 15. 23. rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft , and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry . arg. 2. it is a beastly sin. drunkennss is a beastly sin , in depriving a man of his reason , and makes him carry himself like a beast : it is a vile thing for a man to degrade , and make himself like a beast . job 18. 3. wherefore are we counted as beasts , and reputed as vile in your sight . bildàd thought himself and his friends wonderfully disparaged , when he thought they were counted as beasts ; but how do they vilifie and disparage themselves , who do in reality make themselves no better than bruit beasts by their drunkenness : yea this sin makes a man worse than a beast ; the ass is a silly beast , yet the ass will not drink to excess , they drink no more than will quench their thirst , psal. 104. 11. the wild asses quench their thirst : and therefore , as solomon sends the sluggard to the ant , prov 6. 6. go to the ant thou sluggard , consider her wayes and be wise ; so may i send the drunkard to the wild asses : go to the wild asses thou drunkard , and consider their wayes and be wise ; who having no guide , overseer or ruler , never drink any more than will quench their thirst , though they meet with the best and pleasantest springs , and purest fountains under heaven ; and wilt thou who hast had many instructors , that have taught thee the odiousness of this sin of drunkenness , be inticed by the pureness of the wine , or the pleasantness of this drink , to drink to excess ? toads and serpents which are hateful creatures , will not drink more than is suitable and convenient to their natures : and shall man who was made after the image of god , make himself worse than a toad or a serdent by drinking to excess ? arg. 3. it is a mischievous sin both to body , soul , and estate . drunkenness is a most mischievous sin , and brings a world of mischief along with it , both to soul and body , estate and good name . 1. it doth great mischief to the soul : for ( 1 ) it besots and stupifies the soul , and estranges a mans heart from god , who is his chiefest good : hos. 4. 11. whoredom and wine , and new wine take away the heart : we may take heart here for the understanding ; as rom. 2. 21. their foolish heart was darkened : and so it is true , that wine takes away the heart ; that is , it stupisieth the mind , it blinds and darkens the understanding , and maketh men sottish ; as jeremiah complains of the jews , who were much addicted to drunkenness . jer. 4. 22. my people is foolish , they have not known me , they are sottish children , and have no understanding , they are wise to do evil , but to do good they have no knowledge : or we may take heart for the affections ; and so it is true , that wine takes away the heart , for drunkenness takes off the heart from god and all things that are good : drunkards have no love to god , no delight in god ; no desire of enjoying god , no fear of god , no heart to that which is good . drunkenness is a fleshly lust ; and fleshly lusts war against , and tend to the ruine of our precious souls . 1 pet 2. 11. dearly beloved , i beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts , which war against the soul. 2. it brings great mischief to the body , by the painful diseases that it breeds in the body , and by the wounds and bruises men get by falls , when they have drunk so much they are not able to go , or to guide the horses they ride on ; and also by the wounds they get in quarrels and contentions with their companions when they are in their cups . prov. 23. 29 , 30. who hath woe ? who hath sorrow ? who hath contentions ? who hath bablings ? who hath wounds without cause ? who hath redness of eyes ? they that tarry long at the wine : not only the eyes are made red , but the whole body is inflamed and greatly distempered by excessive drinking . isa. 5. 11. woe to them that follow strong drink , that continue till night , till wine enflame them . our bodies should be the temples of the holy ghost ; 1 cor. 6. 19. what , know you not that your body is the temple of the holy ghost which is in you ? and it is dangerous defiling the temple of god with excess of wine or strong drink : 1 cor. 3. 17. if any man defile the temple of god , him shall god destroy . 3. it brings ruine on a mans estate ; prov. 23. 21. the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty . many persons by their drunken and sottish courses waste fair estates , that were left them by their parents : others that have been brought up to callings , spend all they gain by their callings in excessive drinking , whereby it comes to pass that they make no provision for their families , but their wives and children are brought into great wants and straits ; such as these are as bad , yea worse than infidels ; 1 tim. 5. 8. but if any provide not for his own , and especially for those of his own house , he hath denyed the faith , and is worse than an infidel . 4. it blasts a mans reputation ; it is a shame for a man to have the brand of a drunkard set upon him : even children will hout and deride a drunken ma● when they see him reel and stagger as he goeth in the street . arg. 4. drunkenness is the cause of many other sins . the greatness of the sin of drunkenness will appear from hence , that it disposeth a man to many other great and crying sins : as for instance , 1. drunkenness disposeth men to commit uncleanness ; prov. 23. 31 , 33. look not upon the wine when it is red : — thine eyes shall behold strange women . when men are overcome with wine , they are easily drawn to commit the worst of uncleanness : lot though a righteous man , being overtaken with drunkenness , commited incest twice . eph. 5. 18. be not drunk with wine , wherein is excess . as beza observes , omnis profusio eaque summâ cum turpitudine conjuncta ; all excess of riot , even that which is joyned with the greatest filthiness : no filthiness comes amiss to a drunken man , who is shameless whilest he is overcome with strong drink . the jews , who were much addicted to drunkenness , were greatly addicted to whoredom also . hos. 4. 11 , 18. whoredom and wine take away the heart : their drink is sowre , they have committed whoredom continually . their drink is sowre , some interpret of the sowre belches drunkards have after their cups : and another effect of immoderate drinking wine , besides the sowring of it in the stomach , is , that it provokes men to whoredom . hierom hath a smart passage to this effect , nunquam ego ebrium castum putabo ; i shall never think a drunkard can be a chaste man. 2. drunkards are easily perswaded to be idolaters ; for they making ▪ their belly their god , phil. 3. 19. will easily be perswaded to bow down their bodies to an idol , and comply with any religion which will suit best with their interest : hos. 3. 1. the children of israel who look to other gods , and love flagons of wine . dan. 5. 4. they drank wine , and praised the gods of gold , and of silver , and of brass , of iron , of wood , and of stone . 3. drunkenness is accompanied with abundance of vain bablings , and foolish and idle talk , which men have together when they are in their cups . prov. 23. 29 , 30. who hath bablings ? they that tarry long at the wine . and if any think there is no great hurt in those bablings , and foolish talking that drunkards have when they sit together at inns or alehouses , let such consider , ( 1. ) that vain bablings hardens the heart , and dispose a man to ungodly practices . 2 tim. 2. 16. but shun profane and vain bablings , for they will increase to more ungodliness . ( 2. ) though foolish talking and jesting is made light of , and accounted by many a matter of mirth , yet it is a sin brings down gods wrath . eph. 5. 4 , 6. neither filthiness , nor foolish talking , nor jesting , which are not convenient : let no man deceive you with vain words ; for because of these things cometh the wrath of god upon the children of disobedience . ( 3. ) men must give an account for every idle word at the day of judgment , and without repentance they shall be condemned for their idle words , as well as their other sins : mat. 12. 36 , 37. but i say unto you , that every idle word that men shall speak , they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment : for by thy words thou shalt be justified , and by thy words thou shalt be condemned . ( 4. ) there are few drunkards , but they will mock and scost and rail at the ministers and servants of christ , and sing songs of them , especially when they are in their cups : prov. 20. 1. wine is a mocker ; that is , it makes men mockers . mercer's note upon that text is , vini potor derisor dei hominumque esse solet : a drunkard is wont to be a derider of god and men. it hath been usual with drunkards in former , as well as these dayes , to sing songs of the people of god : psal. 69. 12. i am the song of drunkards . now this mocking the ministers and people of god is a grievous sin , it brings down wrath without remedy ; 2 chron. 36. 16. they mocked the messengers of god , and despised his words , and misused his prophets , untill the wrath of the lord arose against his people , till there was no remedy . mockers bring upon themselves mighty and unavoidable judgments . isa. 28. 24. now therefore be ye not mockers , lest your bands be made stronger . forty two little children were torn in pieces by two she-bears , for mocking a prophet , and calling him bald-head , 2 kin. 2. 23 , 24. and if god was so offended with little children for this sin of mocking a prophet , that he sent two bears which tore in pieces forty two children , how offensive is it to the lord , to hear those that are come to mans estate , knowing and understanding men , mock and scoff at his servants ? though no judgment come upon them in this world for their sin , yet without repentance a worse thing will come unto them ; they shall be rent and torn , that is , they shall be tormented in the other world for ever by the devil , who is a roaring lyon , a far more dreadful enemy than the bears that tore the little children in pieces . ( 5. ) drunkards are usually swearers , and some of them will swear dreadful oaths , such as would make a man tremble to hear them : and swearing , profane swearing is an abominable sin , and brings a man in danger of hell fire : jam. 5. 1● . but above all things , my brethren , swear not , neither by heaven , neither by the earth , neither by any other oath ; but let your yea be yea , and your nay be nay , lest you fall into condemnation . ( 6. ) drunkards are oftentimes persecutors , and smiters of their fellow servants : mat. 24. 48 , 49. if that evil servant shall say in his heart , my lord delayeth his coming , and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants , and to eat and drink with the drunken . they are such which eat and drink with the drunken , that smite their fellow-servants ; and smiting and persecuting the servants of christ is a hainous sin : he takes it as ill when his servants are persecuted , as if he himself was persecuted : act. 9. 4. saul , saul , why persecutest thou me ? saul did not persecute christ in his own person , for he was in heaven , sitting at his fathers right hand : but he persecuted christs servants , and christ was as much offended at the persecuting of his members , as if he himself had been persecuted . ( 7. ) drunkenness casts men into a deep sleep , and maketh them dreadfully secure under those judgments that hang over their heads . prov. 23. 34. yea , thou shalt be as one that lyeth down in the midst of the sea , or as he that lyeth on the top of the mast. solomon speaking of such that tarry long at the wine , sets out their danger by one that lyeth on the top of the mast in the midst of the sea , who is in danger every moment of falling into the sea and to be drowned , yet fears nothing whilest he is asleep : such is the case of drunkards , they are in danger of falling into hell every day , and yet they fear nothing , till god awakens their consciences , and shews them their sin and misery . when the prophet calls , awake ye drunkards , joel 2. 5. it implies , they are in a deep sleep , and that it is no easie matter to awake them . ( 8. ) sometimes drunkards commit murder in their drunkenness , and quarrel with and kill their best friends . it is reported of alexander , that when he was drunk he killed his beloved friend clytus : yea , there is no sin so horrid , but a drunken man may ▪ fall into it , if he hath an occasion and temptation to commit it . arg. 5. drunkenness is such an abominable sin , that it brings down national judgments : whole nations are punished for this sin of drunkenness ; the earth is weary of bearing drunkards , and often spueth out its inhabitants : we read of the canaanites , that their land spued them out for their defiling it ; and the israelites are warned not to defile their land , lest they also be spued out ; lev. 18. 28. that the land spue not you out also when ye defile it , as it spued out the nations that were before you : and when the israelites did defile their land by drunkenness and others sins , they were a burthen to the land ; it was weary with bearing them , it spued them out , and they were carryed captive into a strange land : isa. 5. 11 , 13. woe to them that rise up early to follow strong drink , and continue until night , till wine enslame them : therefore my people are gone into captivity . the lord threatned to send mighty adversaries against ephraim , for their pride , and drunkenness , which should come upon them as furiously as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm , and as a mighty flood of water , that should overflow all places , and bear down all before it . isa. 28. 1 , 2. woe to the crown of pride , the drunkards of ephraim : so that drunkards are the plague of a nation , that bring down gods judgements on themselves , and the place where they live : and when an overflowing scourge comes on a nation , usually drunkards have the speediest and deepest share in the judgments of god. amos 6. 1 , 3 , 6 , 7. wo to them that are at ease in zion : that put far away the evil day : that drink in bowls : therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive . when the king of assyria invaded the land of israel , the drunkards were trod under feet like mire in the streets ; isa. 28. 2 , 3. behold the lord hath a mighty and strong one : the crown of pride , the drunkards of ephraim shall be trod under feet . arg. 6. drunkards oft-times dye in the act of sin. drunkenness appears to be a great sin , because oft-times it is punished with sudden death ; and sometimes drunkards are cut off in the very act of sin ; they are very frequently cut off suddenly and unexpectedly . nah. 1. 10. while they are drunken as drunkards , they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry : stubble that is fully dry , is devoured in a moment . luk. 12. 45 , 46. if that servant shall begin to eat and to drink , and to be drunken , the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him , and at an hour when he is not aware , and will cut him asunder , and appoint him his portion with unbelievers : we see here the woful condition of drunkards , both in their death and after their death ; their death is oftentimes sudden and unexpected , they have not a day , not an hours warning , rev. 21. 8. elah a king in israel was cut off in the very act of sin , while he was drinking himself drunk in his stewards house , 1 kings 16. 9 , 10. as christ said to deterr us from looking back , remember lots wife ; so may i say , to deterre you from drunkenness , remember elah , who was kill'd whil'st he was drinking himself drunk : and if god did not spare a king in israel , take heed lest he do not spare you . besides elah's example , amnon one of davids sons , was killed whil'st his heart was merry with wine , 2 sam. 13. 28. when belshazzar had been drinking wine with a thousand of his lords in the day time , he was slain in the night , dan. 5. 1 , 30. besides these examples , we have known and heard of several others that have dyed dead drunk , and never came to life again ; others that have fallen off their horses in their drunkenness , and broke their necks ; others that have faln into the water and been drowned , and others cut off by other means . arg. 7. it unfits a man for the service of god. drunkenness makes a man unfit for any good work , unfit for the service of god and men , unfit for death and judgment : it makes a man unfit for prayer , and all other religious duties . 1 pet. 4. 7. the end of all things is at hand , be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer : no men are fit for prayer , but sober men . it is probable nadab and abihu had distempered themselves with wine or strong drink , when they presumed to offer up strange fire , and fire went out from the lord and devoured them : for immediately after the relation of their sin and punishment , there is a strict charge given to aaron and his sons , that they should not drink wine or strong drink , when they went into the tabernacle of the congregation , on pain of death , lev. 10. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. it also unfits a man for the service of his generation , especially for a place of publick trust ; many armies have been ruined , towns and kingdoms lost by the drunkenness of commanders . a small army of the israelites , not exceeding seven thousand , setting upon the syrians , when benhadad their king was drinking himself drunk with his confederates , put the syrians to flight , and slew them with a great slaughter ; although besides his own great army he had thirty two kings that came to his assistance ; 1 kings 16. 17 , 20. and as this sin renders us unfit for the service of god and men , so also it makes us unfit for the day of death and judgment : luk. 21. 34. and take heed to your selves , lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness . arg. 8. it will exclude a man out of heaven . drunkenness is such an odious sin , that the lord hath told us expresly , that he will not admit any drunkards into the kingdom of heaven . 1 cor. 6. 9 , 10. know ye not , that the unrighteous shall not enter into the kingdom of god : be not deceived , neither fornicators , nor drunkards shall inherit the kingdom of god. gal. 5. 19 , 20 , 21. now the works of the flesh are manifest , which are these , adultery , fornications , uncleanness and lasciviousness , revellings and such like : of which i tell you before , as i have told you in times past , that they which do such things , shall not inherit the kingdom of god. it was a foolish act in esau , and argued him to be a profane man , to sell his birth-right for a morsel of meat . heb. 12. 16. lest there be any fornicator , or profane person , as esau , who for one morsel of meat sold his birth-right . drunkards are guilty of worse profaneness than esau , for they part with a better blessing than a birth-right , namely , the kingdom of heaven , for a pot of drink or cup of wine , which do them no good , but much hurt . arg. 9. it is a damnable sin. drunkenness is a damnable sin ; a sin for which men shall be condemned to the torments of hell for ever . the drunkard shall be cut asunder , and have his portion with unbelievers , luk. 12. 45 , 46. there is scarce any sin fills hell like drunkenness ; following wine and strong drink send great multitudes to hell : the drunken gentleman and drunken prince , notwithstanding all their bravery shall descend into hell , as well as the drunken begger . they that inflame themselves with wine and strong drink , shall be tormented in flames of fire for ever ; and then they that drunk wine in boles , and filled themselves with strong drink , shall not with all their entreaties get so much as one drop of water to cool their tongues . arg. 10. it is a bewitching sin , very hardly left by those that are addicted to it . drunkenness is an enticing , bewitching sin , which is very hardly left by those that are addicted to it : neither the word nor rod of god prevaileth with men to leave this sin , but they go on sinning against light , sinning against the counsels , reproofs and tears of friends , against the checks of their own consciences ; though the lord afflict them in their bodies , estates , good names , yet still they persevere in this sin : though when upon sick beds they are under terrors of conscience , and feel as it were some flashes of hell-fire , and make great vows and solemn protestations , that if god will spare their lives , and raise them up again , they will leave off their drunkenness ; yet when they are restored to health ▪ they return to their old course again : prov. 23. 35. they have stricken me , shalt thou say , and i was not sick : they have beaten me , and i felt it not : when shall i awake ? i will seek it yet again : solomon speaks here of drunkards , who are not disheartened by all the difficulties , and troubles ▪ and blowes that they meet with in following after strong drink ; but resolve to seek it yet again , and to persist in their dissolute courses . drunkards are wont to encourage themselves , and one another , to persist in their drunken courses under all discouragements . isa. 56. 12. come ye , say they , i will fetch wine , and we will fill our selves with strong drink , and to morrow shall be as this day , and much more abundant . instead of desisting they grow more resolved in their way : and the reason why this sin is so hardly left , and so few recovered from it , may be partly from the strength this sinful habit gets in the soul by the many repeated acts of this sin , and also from the pleasingnesse of this sin to corrupt nature ; for the more pleasing any sin is , the more hardly it is left : and chiefly from the just and righteous judgment of god , who giveth up men who go on sinning against light , unto their own hearts lusts , saying to them , he that is filthy , let him be filthy still . drunkenness is called by some , vitium maximae adhaerentiae ; a sin that sticks closer and faster to a man than any other sin. these ten arguments against drunkennss were taken out of the sermons of mr. owen stockton of colchester , lately deceased , an able and worthy divine , in a larger discourse again that sin , well i worth the reading , sold by mr. thomas parkhurst at the bible and three crowns in cheapside : preached upon the occasion of a sad and dreadful providence , which lately befell a young man , who for some years was very hopefull for religion , a diligent attender upon god's ordinances , and well esteemed of among the people of god ; but afterwards being led away by temptation , he was sometime overtaken with the sin of drunkenness , and it seemed good to the holy and righteous god to cut him off in the act of sin , when he was ( as is generally reported ) so far overcome with strong drink , that he was not able to go , but was led , and laid upon a bed , and dyed in a few hours , without coming to himself again . his majesties proclamation against vicious , debauch'd , and prophane persons , and against drinking his health . charles , r. since it hath pleased the divine providence in so wonderful a manner , and by wayes and means no less miraculous , than those by which he did , heretofore , preserve and restore his own chosen people , to restore us , and our good subjects to each other , and to shew us a very hopeful prospect , if not to put us already into possession of that peace , happiness and security , with which this our kingdom hath been heretofore blessed ; it will become us all , in our several stations , to acknowledge this transcendent goodness of almighty god in so seasonable a conjuncture , with such a circumspection , integrity , and reformation in our lives , that we may not drive away that mercy which so near approacheth us , by making our selves ( wholly ) unworthy of it . and in order hereunto , we think it high time to shew our dislike of those ( against whom we have been ever enough offended , though we could not , in this manner declare it , ) who under pretence of affection to us and our service , assume to themselves the liberty of reviling , threatning and reproaching others ; and as much as in them lies , endeavour to stifle and divert their good inclinations to our service , and so to prevent that reconciliation and union of hearts and affections , which can only , with gods blessing , make us rejoyce in each other , and keep our enemies from rejoycing . there are likewise another sort of men , of whom we have heard much , and are sufficiently ashamed ; who spend their time in taverns , tipling-houses and debauches , giving no other evidence of their affection to us , but in drinking our health , and inveighing against all others , who are not of their own dissolute temper ; and who , in truth , have more discredited our cause , by the licence of their manners and lives , than they could ever advance it by their affection or courage . we hope that this extraordinary way of delivering us all , from all we feared , and almost bringing us to all we can reasonably hope for , hath and will work upon the hearts , even of these men to that degree , that they will cordially renounce all that licentiousness , prophaneness , and impiety , with which they have been corrupted , and endeavoured to corrupt others , and that they will hereafter , become examples of sobriety and uertue , and make it appear , that what is past , was rather the uice of the time , than of the persons , and the fitter to be forgotten together . and , because the fear of punishment , or apprehension of our displeasure , may have influence upon many , who will not be restrained by the conscience of their duty , we do declare , that we will not exercise just severity against any malefactors sooner , than against men of dissolute , debauch'd , and profane lives , with what parts soever they may be otherwise qualified and endowed ; and we hope , that all persons of honour , or in place and authority , will so far assist us , in discountenancing such men , that their discretion and shame will perswade them to reform what their conscience would not , and that the displeasure of good men towards them , may supply what the laws have not ; and , it may be , cannot well provide against , there being by the licence and corruption of the times , and the depraved nature of men , many enormities , scandals , and impieties , in practice and manners , which laws cannot well describe , and consequently not enough provide against , which may by the example and severity of uertuous men , be easily discountenanced , and by degrees suppressed . however , for the more effectual reforming these men , who are a discredit to the nation , and unto any cause they pretend to favour , and to wish well to ; we require all maiors , sheriffs , and justices of peace , to be very vigilant and strict in the discovery and prosecution of all dissolute and prophane persons , and such as blaspheme the name of god , by prophane swearing and cursing , or revile or disturb ministers , and despise the publick worship of god ; that being first bound to the good behaviour , they may be further proceeded against , and exposed to shame , in such a manner , as the laws of the land , and the just and necessary rules of government shall direct or permit . dated the twelfth year of our reign . see the dialogue between tory and timothy in the weekly pacquet of aug. 5. 1681. this passage : tory. there are a thousand of my companions that are not capable to express their loyalty any way in the world , if they should be barr'd from drinking of healths , and huzzaing , as if bedlam were broken loose . tim. loyalty is the indispensable duty of every good subject , and signifies no more than an obedience and hearty serving of the king according to law ; and i am sure our most gracious soveraign will not be serv'd any otherwise . nor can i understand how a common drunkard , swearer , whoremonger , &c. ought to be accounted either loyal , or a son of the church of england , since thereby he violates daily the laws of god , nature , and the land , and for the same ought to stand excommunicated by the church . such as will not refrain from intemperate drinking , and be reclamed by scripture , arguments , and examples , let the regard of their bodily health move them : from these weighty reasons of doctor maynwaring's , shewing how it impairs their health many wayes . preservaton of health in the choice of drinks , and regular drinking . drink for necessity , not for bad fellowship ; especially soon after meat , which hinders due fermentation of the stomach , and washeth down before digestion be finished : but after the first concoction , if you have a hot stomach , a dry or costive body , you may drink more freely than others : or if thirst importunes you at any time , to satisfie ▪ with a moderate draught is better than to forbear . accustom youth and strong stomachs to small drink ; but stronger drink , and wine , to the infirm and aged : it chears the spirits , quickens the appetite , and helps digestion , moderately taken : but being used in excess , disturbs the course of nature , and procures many diseases : for corpulent gross and fat bodies , thin , hungry , abstersive , penetrating wines are best , as white-wine , rhenish , and such like . for lean thin bodies ; black , red and yellow wines , sweet , full bodied and fragrant , are more fit and agreeable ; as malaga , muscadel , tent , alicant and such like . for drink , whether it be wholsomer warmed than cold , is ▪ much controverted ; some stifly contending for the one , and some for the other : i shall rather chuse the middle way , with limitation and distinction , than impose it upon all as a rule to be observed under the penalty of forfeiting their health , the observations of the one or the other . there are three sorts of persons , one cannot drink cold beer , the other cannot drink warm , the third , either : you that cannot drink cold beer , to you it is hurtful , cools the stomach , and checks it much : therefore keep to warm drink as a wholsome custom : you that cannot drink warm beer , that is , find no refreshment , nor thirst satisfied by it , you may drink it cold , nor is it injurious to you : you that are indifferent and can drink either , drink yours cold , or warmed , as the company does , since your stomach makes no choice . that warm drink is no bad custom , but agreeable to nature in the generality ; first , because it comes the nearest to the natural temper of the body , and similia similibus conservantur , every thing is preserved by its like , and destroyed by its contrary . secondly , though i do not hold it the principal agent in digestion , yet it does excite , is auxiliary , and a necessary concomitant of a good digestion , ut signum & causa . thirdly , omne frigus per se , & pro viribus destruit ; cold in its own nature , and according to the graduation of its power , extinguisheth natural heat , and is destructive ; but per accidens , and as it is in gradu remisso , it may contemperate , allay , and refresh , where heat abounds , and is exalted . therefore as there is variety of palates , and stomachs liking and agreeing best with such kind of meats and drinks , which to others are utterly disgustful , disagreeing and injurious , though good in themselves : so is it in drink warmed or cold ; what one finds a benefit in , the other receives a prejudice ; at least does not find that satisfaction and refreshment , under such a qualification ; because of the various natures , particular appetitions , and idiosyncratical properties of several bodies , one thing will not agree with all : therefore he that cannot drink warm , let him take it cold , and it is well to him ; but he that drinks it warm , does better . and this is to be understood in winter , when the extremity of cold hath congelated and fixed the spirits of the liquor in a torpid inactivity ; which by a gentle warmth are unfettered , volatile and brisk ; whereby the drink is more agreeable and grateful to the stomachs fermenting heat , being so prepared , than to be made so by it . there are three sorts of drinkers : one drinks to satisfie nature , and to support his body ; without which he cannot well subsist , and requires it as necessary to his being . another drinks a degree beyond this man , and takes a larger dose , with this intention , to exhilerate and chear his mind , to banish cares and trouble , and help him to sleep the better ; and these two are lawful drinkers . a third drinks neither for the good of the body , or the mind , but to stupifie and drown both ; by exceeding the former bounds , and running into excess , frustrating those ends for which drink was appointed by nature ; converting this support of life and health , making it a procurer of sickness and untimely death . many such there are , who drink not to satisfie nature , but force it down many times contrary to natural inclination ; and when there is a reluctancy against it : as drunkards that pour in liquor , not for love of the drink , or that nature requires it by thirst , but onely to maintain the mad frolick , and keep the company from breaking up . some to excuse this intemperance , hold it as good physick to be drunk once a month , and plead for that liberty as a wholesom custom , and quote the authority of a famous physician for it . whether this opinion be allowable , and to be admitted in the due regiment for preservation of health , is fit to be examined . it is a canon established upon good reason ; that every thing exceeding its just bounds , and golden mediocrity , is hurtful to nature . the best of things are not excepted in this general rule ; but are restrained and limited here to a due proportion . the supports of life may prove the procurers of death , if not qualified and made wholsom by this corrective . meat and drink is no longer sustenance , but a load and overcharge , if they exceed the quantum due to each particular person ; and then they are not , what they are properly in themselves , and by the appointment of nature , the preservatives of life and health ; but the causes of sickness , and consequently of death . drink was not appointed man , to discompose and disorder him in all his faculties , but to supply , nourish , and strengthen them . drink exceeding its measure , is no longer a refreshment , to irrigate and water the thirsty body , but makes an inundation to drown and suffocate the vital powers . it puts a man out of the state of health , and represents him in such a degenerate condition both in respect of body and mind , that we may look upon the man , as going out of the world , because he is already gone out of himself , and strangely metamorphosed from what he was . i never knew sickness or a disease , to be good preventing physick ; and to be drunk , is no other than an unsound state , and the whole body out of frame by this great change . what difference is there between sickness and drunkenness ? truly i cannot distinguish them otherwise than as genus and species : drunkenness being a raging disease , denominated and distinguished from other sicknesses , by its procatarctick or procuring cause , drink . that drunkenness is a disease or sickness , will appear in that it hath all the requisites to constitute a disease , and is far distant from a state of health : for as health is the free and regular discharge of all the functions of the body and mind ; and sickness , when the functions are not performed , or weakly and depravedly : then ebriety may properly be said to be a disease or sickness , because it hath the symptoms and diagnostick signs of an acute and great disease : for , during the time of drunkenness , and some time after , few of the faculties perform rightly , but very depravedly and preternaturally : if we examine the intellectual faculties , we shall find the reason gone , the memory lost or much abated , and the will strangely perverted : if we look into the sensitive faculties , they are disordered , and their functions impedited or performed very deficiently : the eyes do not see well , nor the ears hear well , nor the palate rellish , &c. the speech faulters and is imperfect ; the stomach perhaps vomits or nauseates ; his legs fail : indeed if we look through the whole man , we shall see all the faculties depraved , and their functions either not executed , or very disorderly , and with much deficiency . now according to these symptoms in other sicknesses , we judge a man not likely to live long ; and that it is very hard he should recover ; the danger is so great from the many threatning symptoms that attend this sickness , and prognosticate a bad event : here is nothing appears salutary ; but from head to foot , the disease is prevalent in every part ; which being collated , the syndrom is lethal , and judgment to be given so . surely then drunkenness is a very great disease for the time ; but because it is not usually mortal , nor lasts long ; therefore it is slighted , and look't upon as a trivial matter that will cure it self . but now the question may be asked , why is not drunkenness usually mortal ; since the same signs in other diseases are accounted mortal , and the event proves it so ? to which i answer ; all the hopes we have that a man drunk should live , is ; first , from common experience that it is not deadly : secondly , from the nature of the primitive or procuring cause , strong drink or wine ; which although it rage , and strangely discompose the man for a time , yet it lasts not long , nor is mortal . the inebriating spirits of the liquor , flowing in so fast , and joyning with the spirits of mans body , make so high a tide , that overflows all the banks and bounds of order : for , the spirits of mans body , those agents in each faculty , act smoothly , regularly and constantly , with a moderate supply ; but being overcharged , and forced out of their natural course , and exercise of their duty , by the large addition of furious spirits ; spurs the functions into strange disorders , as if nature were conflicting with death and dissolution : but yet it proves not mortal . and this , first , because these adventitious spirits are amicable and friendly to our bodies in their own nature , and therefore not so deadly injurious , as that which is not so familiar or noxious . secondly , because they are very volatile , light and active ; nature therefore does much sooner recover her self , transpires and sends forth the overplus received ; than if the morbisick matter were more ponderous and fixed ; the gravamen from thence would be much worse and longer in removing : as an over-charge of meat , bread , fruit , or such like substances not spirituous ; but dull and heavy ( comparative ) is of more difficult digestion , and layes a greater and more dangerous load upon the faculties , having not such volatile brisk spirits to assist nature , nor of so liquid a fine substance , of quicker and easier digestion : so that the symptoms from thence are much more dangerous , than those peracute distempers arising from liquors . so likewise those bad symptoms in other diseases are more to be feared and accounted mortal ( than the like arising from drunkenness ) because those perhaps depend upon malignant causes ; or such as by time are radicated in the body ; or from the defection of some principal part : but the storm and discomposure arising from drunkenness , as it is suddenly raised , so commonly it soon falls , depending upon benign causes , and a spirituous matter , that layes not so great an oppression ; but inebriates the spirits , that they act very disorderly and unwontedly ; or by the soporiferous vertue , stupifies them for a time , until they recover their agility again . but all this while , i do not see , that to be drunk once a month should prove good physick : all i think that can be said in this behalf , is ; that by overcharging the stomach , vomiting is procured ; and so carries off something that was lodged there , which might breed diseases . this is a bad excuse for good fellows , and a poor plea for drunkenness : for the gaining of one supposed benefit ( which might be obtained otherwise ) you introduce twenty inconveniences by it . i do not like the preventing of one disease that may be , by procuring of one at the present certainly , and many hereafter most probably : and if the disease feared , or may be , could be prevented no otherwise , but by this drunken means ; then that might tolerate and allow it : but there are other wayes better and safer to cleanse the body either upwards or downwards , than by overcharging with strong drink , and making the man to unman himself ; the evil consequents of which are many , the benefit hoped for , but pretended ; or if any , but very small and inconsiderable . and although , as i said before , the drunken fit is not mortal , and the danger perhaps not great for the present ; yet those drunken bouts being repeated ; the relicts do accumulate , debilitate nature , and lay the foundation of many chronick diseases . nor can it be expected otherwise ; but you may justly conclude from the manifest irregular actions which appear to us externally , that the functions within also , and their motions are strangely disordered : for , the outward madness and unwonted actions , proceed from the internal impulses , and disordered motions of the faculties : which general disturbance and discomposure ( being frequent ) must needs subvert the oeconomy and government of humane nature ; and consequently ruine the fabrick of mans body . the ill effects , and more eminent products of ebriety , are ; first , a changing of the natural tone of the stomach , and alienating the digestive faculty ; that instead of a good transmutation of food , a degenerate chyle is produced . common experience tells , that after a drunken debauch , the stomach loseth its appetite , and acuteness of digestion ; as belching , thirst , disrelish , nauseating , do certainly testifie : yet to support nature , and continue the custom of eating , some food is received ; but we cannot expect from such a stomach that a good digestion should follow : and it is some dayes before the stomach recover its eucrasy , and perform its office well : and if these miscarriages happen but seldom , the injury is the less , and sooner recompenced ; but by the frequent repetition of these ruinous practices , the stomach is overthrown and alienated from its integrity . secondly , an unwholsom corpulency and cachectick plenitude of body does follow : or a degenerate macilency , and a decayed consumptive constitution . great drinkers that continue it long , few of them escape , but fall into one of these conditions and habit of body : for , if the stomach discharge not its office a right , the subsequent digestions will also be defective . so great a consent and dependance is there upon the stomach ; that other parts cannot perform their duty , if this leading principal part be perverted and debauched : nor can it be expected otherwise ; for , from this laboratory and prime office of digestion , all the parts must receive their supply ; which being not suitable , but depraved , are drawn into debanchery also , and a degenerate state ; & the whole body fed with vitious alimentary succus . now that different products or habits of body should arise from the same kind of debauchery , happens upon this score . as there are different properties and conditions of bodies ; so the result from the same procuring causes shall be much different and various : one puffs up , fills , and grows hydropical ; another pines away , and falls consumptive , from excess in drinking ; and this proceeds from the different disposition of parts : for , in some persons , although the stomach be vitiated , yet the strength of the subsequent digestions is so great , from the integrity and vigor of those parts destinated to such offices ; that they act strenuously , though their object matter be transmitted to them imperfect and degenerate : und therefore do keep the body plump and full , although the juyces be foul , and of a depraved nature . others è contra , whose parts are not so firm and vigorous ; that will not act upon any score , but with their proper object ; does not endeavour a transmutation of such aliene matter , but receiving it with a nice reluctance , transmits it to be evacuated and sent forth by the next convenient ducture , or emunctory : and from hence the body is frustrated of nu●●ition , and falls away : so that the pouring in of much liquor ( although it be good in sua natura ) does not beget much aliment , but washeth through the body , and is not assimilated . but here some may object and think ; that washing of the body through with good liquor , should cleanse the body , and make it fit for nourishment , and be like good physick for a foul body . but the effect proves the contrary ; and it is but reason it should be so : for , suppose the liquor ( whether wine , or other ) be pure and good ; yet when the spirit is drawn off from it , the remainder is but dead , flat , thick , and a muddy flegm . as we find in the distillation of wine , or other liquors ; so it is in mans body : the spirit is drawn off first , and all the parts of mans body are ready receivers , and do imbibe that limpid congenerous enlivener , freely and readily : but the remainder , of greatest proportion ; that heavy , dull , phlegmy part , and of a narcotick quality ; lies long fluctuating upon the digestions , and passeth but slowly ; turns sowre , and vitiates the crases of the parts : so that this great inundation , and supposed washing of the body , does but drown the faculties , stupifie or choak the spirits , and defile all the parts ; not purifie and cleanse . and although the more subtile and thinner portion , passeth away in some persons pretty freely by urine ; yet the grosser and worse part stayes behind , and clogs in the percolation . a third injury , and common , manifest prejudice from intemperate drinking , is ; an imbecillity of the nerves ; which is procured from the disorderly motions of the animal spirits ; being impulsed and agitated preternaturally by the inebriating spirits of strong liquors : which vibration being frequent , begets a habit , and causeth a trepidation of members . transcribed verbatim out of dr. maynwaring's treatise of long life . finis . are to be sold near the exchange and in popes-head-alley . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a67662-e340 primum crater ad sitim pertinere , secundum ad hilaritatem , tertium ad voluptatem , quartum ad insaniam dixit . apulius . omne nimium naturae est inimicum . a cacotrophy , or atrophy . the touchstone, or, trial of tobacco whether it be good for all constitutions : with a word of advice against immoderate drinking and smoaking : likewise examples of some that have drunk their lives away, and died suddenly : with king jame's [sic] opinion of tobacco, and how it came first into england : also the first original of coffee : to which is added, witty poems about tobacco and coffe [sic] : something about tobacco, written by george withers, the late famous poet ... two broad-sides against tobacco. 1676 approx. 180 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 40 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a87472 wing j144a estc r42598 36282425 ocm 36282425 150099 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a87472) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 150099) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2230:6) the touchstone, or, trial of tobacco whether it be good for all constitutions : with a word of advice against immoderate drinking and smoaking : likewise examples of some that have drunk their lives away, and died suddenly : with king jame's [sic] opinion of tobacco, and how it came first into england : also the first original of coffee : to which is added, witty poems about tobacco and coffe [sic] : something about tobacco, written by george withers, the late famous poet ... two broad-sides against tobacco. hancock, john, fl. 1638-1675. hancock, john, fl. 1669-1705. james i, king of england, 1566-1625. counterblaste to tobacco. 1676. maynwaringe, everard, 1628-1699? thomson, george, fl. 1648-1679. aimatiasis. selections. 1676. ward, samuel, 1577-1640. woe to drunkards. 1676. sylvester, josuah, 1563-1618. tobacco battered, and the pipes shattered. 1676. everard, giles. de herba panacea. english. selections. 1676. wither, george, 1588-1667. [6], 72 p. : ill. printed and are to be sold by the several booksellers, london : 1676. dedication signed: j.h. (i.e. john hancock). previously published under title: two broad-sides against tobacco (london : printed for john hancock, 1672). signatures: [a]⁴ b-k⁴. illustrations: 1 print : woodcut ; full-page. subject: "the picture represents the tobacchonists [sic] armes, and turks coffee-house." woodcut and type flower headpieces; ornamental and criblé initials. reproduction of original in the william andrews clark memorial library, university of california, los angeles. a counterblast to tobacco (p. 1-12) -dr. maynwaring's serious cautions against tobacco, collected out of his treatise of the scurvy, (p. 70) -preservation of health in the choice of drinks, and regular drinking / transcribed verbatim out of doctor maynwaring's treatise of long life -another collection against tobacco-smoking / written by ... george thompson, in his book of preservation of the bloud -woe to drunkards : a sermon / preached many years since by mr. samuel ward --tobacco battered and the pipes shattered ... / collected out of the famous poems of joshua sylvester, gent. -a broad-side against coffee, or, the marriage of the turk -collection ... taken out of that book of dr. everard's, entituled, the vertue of tobacco -a postscript, by way of apology. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng tobacco habit -great britain -early works to 1800. tobacco -physiological effect -early works to 1800. tobacco -poetry -early works to 1800. smoking in art -early works to 1800. coffee habit -great britain -early works to 1800. coffee -poetry -early works to 1800. alcoholism -great britain -early works to 1800. 2008-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-11 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-11 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the touchstone or , trial of tobacco whether it be good for all constitutions . with a word of advice against immoderate drinking and smoaking . likewise examples of some that have drunk their lives away , and died suddenly . with king jame's opinion of tobacco , and how it came first into england . also the first original of coffee . to which is added witty poems about tobacco and coffe ; something about tobacco , written by george withers , the late famous poet. the picture represents the tobacchonists armes , and turks coffee-house . coffee , a kind of turkish renegade , has late a match with christian water made ; a coachman was the first ( here ) coffee made , and ever since the rest drove on the trade ; me no good engalash ? and sure enough , he plaid the quack to salve his stygian stuff ; ver boon for de stomach , de cough , de ptisick , and i believe him , for it looks like physick london , printed and are to be sold by the several booksellers . 1676. to all taverns , inns , victualling-houses , ale-houses , coffee-houses , strong-water-shops , tobacconists-shops , in england , scotland or ireland . gentle readers , here is presented to you a brief , learned , and a very seasonable treatise for the age we live in : it was many years since penned by king james of happy and blessed memory , entituled , a counterblast to tobacco ; it it here verbatim , faithfully transcribed out of the large and learned volume of his other works in folio , which are rare and scarce to be had for money , and of too great a price for the common sort of tobacco-smokers to purchase : it is granted , the thing may be good , and physical , and healthful , being moderately and but seldom taken ; but for men to take ten or twenty pipes in a day in all companies , morning , noon and night , before and presently after meals ; this is a strange way of taking physick . now the king understanding the evil custom of taking tobacco , or , as we now call it , smoking a pipe , was grown to a great head , he seems to be very much insensed at it , and discovers how it first came into england , and its first original ; and how that it was used much amongst the savage indians , to cure lewes venerea , a disease among them : his majesty wisely fore-seeing the evil consequences that would follow , by such immoderate sucking in the foul smoke of this indian weed , and he being the physician of the body politick , doth by many strong and excellent arguments , disswade his subjects from imitating the practise of the heathen indians , in drinking this noxious fume . it was in his time but a novelty , and practised but a little , except amongst the nobility , gentry , or great ones : but now what is more frequently used in every ale-house and coffee-house , besides great inns and taverns in london , and all the three kingdoms over . whereas if men were so wise for their own good , both in body , soul , and estate , as to handle a good book , either of divinity , or of morality , half so often as they do the pipe of smoke , it would be better for them in all respects , more precious time and money would be saved . i shall detain you no longer from a more learned epistle and treatise of the matter in hand : and as king solomon , who was the wisest of kings , saith in his book of ecclesiastes , that where the word of a king is , there is power ; so i say , if what our famous king james hath written , be not of power sufficient to divert all english men , &c. from this evil and hurtful custom ; it is here seconded , and backed home , by the words and advice of an able and learned doctor of physick now living ; it being so sutable to the purpose , was thought fit to be added to this counterblast . and that it may not be said ( as the common proverb is ) to be only one doctors opinion , i have thought fit to add another , collected out of a treatise of the bloud , written by that learned physician dr. george thompson , who agreeth with the former against smoking tobacco , as dangerous . i apprehend , that what hath been spoken against drinking tobacco , may much more be said against immoderate drinking of wine , ale , beer , or any strong liquors , and dishes of coffee , &c. thus hoping thou wilt make a good use of what is here gathered together , and offered for thy good , i rest . a well-wisher to thy health , j. h. to the reader . as every humane body ( dear country-men ) how wholsome soever , is notwithstanding subject , or at least naturally inclined to some sorts of diseases or infirmities : so is here no common-wealth , or body-politick , how well governed or peaceable soever it be , that lacks their own popular errors , and naturally inclined corruptions ; and therefore it is no wonder , although this our country and common-wealth , though peaceable , though wealthy , though long flourishing in both , be amongst the rest , subject to their own natural infirmities . we are of all nations the people most loving , and most reverently obedient to our prince ; yet we are ( as time hath often born witness ) too easie to be seduced to make rebellion upon very slight grounds . our fortunate and oft-proved valour in wars abroad , our hearty and reverent obedience to our princes at home , hath given us a long , and thrice-happy peace ; our peace hath bred wealth : and peace and wealth hath brough forth a general sluggishness , which makes us wallow in all sorts of idle delights , and soft delicacies , the first seeds of the subversion of all great monarchies . our clergy are become negligent and lasie , our nobility and gentry prodigal , and sold to their private delights ; our lawyers covetous , our common people prodigal and curious ; and generally all sorts of people more careful for their private ends , then for their mother the common-wealth . for remedy whereof , it is the king's part ( as the proper physician of his politick body ) to purge it of all those diseases , by medicines meet for the same ; as by a certain mild , and yet just form of government , to maintain the publick quietness , and prevent all occasions of commotion ; by the example of his own person and court , to make us all ashamed of our sluggish delicacy , and to stir us up to the practice again of all honest exercises , and martial shadows of war ; as likewise by his , and his courts moderateness in apparel , to make us ashamed of our prodigality : by his quick admonitions , and careful over-seeing of the clergy , to waken them up again , to be more diligent in their offices : by the sharp tryal , and severe punishment of the partial , covetous , and bribing lawyers , to reform their corruptions : and generally by the example of his own person , and by the due execution of good laws , to reform and abolish piece and piece , these old and evil-grounded abuses : for this will not be opus unius diei , but as every one of these diseases , must from the king receive the one cure proper for it ; so are there some sorts of abuses in common-wealths , that though they be of so base and contemptible a condition , as they are too low for the law to look on , and too mean for a king to interpose his authority , or bend his eye upon ; yet are they corruptions , as well as the greatest of them . so is an ant an animal as well as an elephant ; so is a wren avis , as well as a swan ; and so is a small dint of the tooth-ach a disease , as well as the fearful plague is . but for these base sorts of corruption in common-wealths ; not only the king , or any inferiour magistrate , but quilibet ê populo may serve to be a physician , by discovering and impugning the error , and by perswading reformation thereof . and surely in my opinion , there cannot be a more base , and yet hurtful corruption in a country , then is the vile use ( or rather abuse ) of taking tobacco in this kingdome , which hath moved me shortly to discover the abuses in this following little pamphlet . if any think it a light argument , so it is but a toy that is bestowed upon it . and since the subject is but of smoke , i think the sume of an idle brain , may serve for a sufficient battery against so fumous a feblean enemy . if my grounds be found true , it is all i look for ; but if they carry the force of perswasion with them , it is all i can wish , and more then i can expect . my only care is , my dear country-men may rightly conceive even by this smallest trifle , of the sincerity of my meaning in greater matters , never to spare any pains , that may tend to the procuring of your weale and prosperity . a counterblast to tobacco . that the manifold abuses of this vile custome of tobacco-taking , may the better be espied ; it is fit , that first you enter into consideration both of the first original thereof , and likewise of the reasons of the first entry thereof into this countrey ; for certainly as such customs that have their first institution , either from a godly ; necessary , or honourable ground , and are first brought in by the means of some worthy , vertuous , and great personage ; are ever , and most justly holden in great and reverent estimation and account by all wise , vertuous and temperate spirits : so should it by the contrary , justly bring a great disgrace into that sort of customs , which having their original from base corruption and barbarity , do , in like sort , make their first entry into a country , by an inconsiderate and childish affectation of novelty , as is the true case of the first invention of tobacco-taking , and of the first entry thereof amongst us . for tobacco being a common herb , which ( though under divers names ) grows almost every where , was first found out by some of the barbarous indians to be a preservative , or antidote against the pox , a filthy disease , whereunto these barbarous people are ( as all men know ) very much subject , what through the uncleanly and adust constitution of their bodies , and what through the intemperate heat of their climate . so that as from them , was first brought into christendome , that most detestable disease : so from the likewise was brought this use of tobacco , as a stinking and unsavory antidote , for so corrupted and execrable a malady ; the stinking suffumigation whereof they yet use against that disease , making so one canker or vermine to eat out another . and now , good country-men , let us ( i pray you ) consider what honour or policy can move us to imitate the barbarous and beastly manners of the wild , godless and slavish indians , especially in so vile and stinking a custome . shall we that disdain to imitate the manners of our neighbour france , ( having the stile of the great christian kingdome ) and that cannot endure the spirit of the spaniards ( their king being now comparable in largeness of dominions , to the greatest emperour of turky ; ) shall we , i say , that have been so long civil and wealthy in peace , famous and invincible in war , fortunate in both ; we that have been ever able to aid any of our neighbours ( but never deafed any of their ears with any of our supplications for assistance ; ) shall we , i say , without blushing , abase our selves so far , as to imitate these beastly indians , slaves to the spaniards , refuse to the world , and as yet aliens from the holy covenant of god ? why do we not as well imitate them in walking naked , as they do , in preferring glasses , feathers , and such toys , to gold and precious stones , as they do ? yea , why do we not deny god , and adore the devil , as they do . now to the corrupted baseness of the first use of this tobacco , doth very well agree the foolish and groundless first entry thereof into this kingdom : it is not long since the first entry of this abuse amongst us here , as this present age cannot yet very well remember , both the first author , and the form of the first introduction of it against us . it was neither brought in by king , great conqueror , nor learned doctor of physick . with the report of a great discovery for a conquest , some two or three savage men were brought in , together with this savage custome : but the pity is , the poor , wild , barbarous men died ; but that vile barbarous custome is yet alive , yea in fresh vigour , so as it seems a miracle to me , how a custome springing from so vile a ground , and brought in by a father so generally hated , should be welcomed upon so slender a warrant : for if they that first put it in practice here , had remembred for what respect it was used by them from whence it came ; i am sure they would have been loath to have taken so far the imputation of that disease upon them as they did , by using the cure thereof ; for sanis non est opus medice , and counter-poysons are never used , but where poyson is thought to proceed . but since it is true , that divers customs slightly grounded , and with no better warrant entred in a common-wealth , may yet in the use of them thereafter , prove both necessary and profitable ; it is therefore next to be examined , if there be not a ful sympathy and true proportion between the base ground and foolish entry , and the loathsome and hurtful use of this stinking antidote . i am now therefore heartily to pray you to consider , first upon what false and erroneous grounds you have first built the general good liking thereof ; and next , what sins towards god , and foolish vanities before the world , you commit in the detestable use of it . as for those deceitful grounds , that have specially moved you to take a good and great conceit thereof : i shall content my self to examine here onely four of the principals of them , two founded upon the theorick of a deceivable appearance of reason , and two of them upon the mistaken practick of general experience . first , it is thought by you a sure aphorisme in the physick ; that the brains of all men being naturally cold and wet , all dry and hot things should be good for them , of which nature this stinking suffumigation is , and therefore of good use to them . of this argument both the proposition and assumption are false , and so the conclusion cannot but be void of it self : for as to the proposition , that because the brains are cold and moist , therefore things that are hot and dry are best for them ; it is an inept consequence : for man being compounded of the four complexions ( whose fathers are the four elements ) although there be a mixture of them all , in all the parts of his body , yet must the divers parts of our microcosme , or little world within our selves , be diversly more inclined , some to one , some to another complexion , according to the diversity of their uses ; that of these discords a perfect harmony may be made up for the maintenance of the whole body . the application then of a thing of a contrary nature to any of these parts , is to interrupt them of their due function , and by consequence hurtful to the health of the whole body ; as if a man , because the liver is as the fountain of bloud , and , as it were , an oven to the stomach , would therefore apply and wear close upon his liver and stomach a cake of lead , he might within a very short time ( i hope ) be sustained very good cheap at an ordinary , besides the clearing of his conscience from that deadly fin of gluttony : and as if because the heart is full of vital spirits , and in perpetual motion ; a man would therefore lay a heavy pound stone on his breast , for staying and holding down that wanton palpitation ; i doubt not but his breast would be more bruised with the weight thereof , then the heart would be comforted with such a disagreeable and contrarious cure. and even so is it with the brains ; for if a man because the brains are cold and humide , would therefore use inwardly by smells , or outwardly by application , things of hot and dry quality ; all the gain that he could make thereof , would onely be to put himself in great forwardness for running mad , by over-watching himself ; the coldness and moisture of our brains being the onely ordinary means that procure our sleep and rest . indeed , i do not deny , that when it falls out that any of these , or any part of our body , grows to be distempered , and to tend to an extremity beyond the compass of natures temperate mixture , that in that case cures of contrary qualities to the intemperate inclination of that part being wisely prepared , and discreetly ministred , may be both necessary and helpful for strengthening and assisting nature in the expulsion of her enemies ; for this is the true definition of all profitable physick . but first , these cures ought not to be used , but where there is need of them ; the contrary whereof is daily practiced in this general use of tobacco , by all sorts and complexions of people . and next , i deny the minor of this argument , as i have already said , in regard that this tobacco is not simply of a dry and hot quality , but rather hath a certain venomous faculty joyned with the heat thereof , which makes it have an antipathy against nature , as by the hateful smell thereof doth well appear ; for the nose being the proper organ and convoy of the sence of smelling to the brains , which are the onely fountain of that sence , doth ever serve us for an infallible witness , whether that odour which we smell be healthful or hurtful to the brain , ( except when it falls out that the sence it self is corrupted and abused , through some infirmity and distemper in the brain : ) and that the suffumigation thereof cannot have a drying quality , it needs no further probation , then that it is a smoke , all smoke and vapour being of it self humide , as drawing near to the nature of the air , and easie to be resolved again into water , whereof there needs no other proof but the meteors , which being bred of nothing else but of the vapors and exhalations sucked up by the sun out of the earth , the sea and waters ; yet are the same smoky vapors turned and transformed into rains , snows , dews , hoar-frosts , and such like watry meteors ; as by the contrary , the rainy clouds are often transformed and evaporated in blustering winds . the second argument grounded on a shew of reason , is , that this filthy smoke , as well through the heat and strength thereof , as by a natural force and quality , is able and fit to purge both the head and stomach of rheumes and distillations , as experience teacheth by the spitting , and avoiding flegm , immediately after the taking of it . but the fallacy of this argument may easily appear , by my late proceeding description of the meteors ; for even as the smoky vapours sucked by the sun , and stayed in the lowest and cold region of the air , are there contracted into clouds , and turned into rain , and such other watry meteors ; so this stinking smoke being sucked up by the nose ; and imprisoned in the cold and moist brains , is by their cold and wet faculty turned and cast forth again in watry distillations , and so are you made free , and purged of nothing , but that wherewith you wilfully burdened your selves ; and therefore are you no wiser in taking tobacco for purging you of distillations , then if for preventing the cholick , you would take all kind of windy meats and drinks ; and for preventing of the stone , you would take all kind of meats and drinks that would breed gravel in the kidneys ; and then when you were forced to avoid much wind out of your stomach , and much gravel in your urine , that you should attribute the thank thereof to such nourishments as breed those within you , that behoved either to be expelled by the force of nature , or you to have burst at the broad side , as the proverb is . as for the other two reasons founded upon experience ; the first of which is , that the whole people would not have taken so general a good liking thereof , if they had not by experience found it very soveraign and good for them : for answer thereunto , how easily the minds of any people , wherewith god hath replenished this world , may be drawn to the foolish affectation of any novelty , i leave it to the discreet judgment of any man that is reasonable . do we not daily see , that a man can no sooner bring over from beyond the seas any new form of apparel , but that he cannot be thought a man of spirit , that would not presently imitate the same ; and so from hand to hand it spreads , till it be practised by all ; not for any commodity that is in it , but only because it is come to be the fashion ; for such is the force of that natural self-love in every one of us , and such is the corruption of envy bred in the breast of every one , as we cannot be content , unless we imitate every thing that our fellows do , and so prove our selves capable of every thing whereof they are capable , like apes , counterfeiting the manners of others to our own destruction . for let one or two of the greatest masters of mathematicks in any of the two famous universities , but constantly affirm any clear day , that they see some strange apparition in the skies ; they will , i warrant you , be seconded by the greatest part of the students in that profession ; so loath will they be , to be thought inferiour to their fellows either in depth of knowledge or sharpness of sight : and therefore the general good liking , and embracing of this foolish custome , doth but onely proceed from that affectation of novelty and popular error , whereof i have already spoken . and the other argument drawn from a mistaken experience , is but the more particular probation of this general , because it is alledge to be found true by proof , that by the taking of tobacco , divers , and very many , do find themselves cured of divers diseases , as on the other part no man ever received harm thereby . in this argument , there is first a great mistaking , and next a monstrous absurdity ; for is not a very great mistaking , to take non causam proeausa ; as they say in the logicks ; because peradventure when a sick man hath had his disease at the heighth , he hath at that instant taken tabacco , and afterward his disease taking the natural course of declining , and consequently the patient of recovering his health , o then the tobacco forsooth was the worker of that miracle ! beside that , it is a thing well known to all physicians , that the apprehension and conceit of the patient hath by wakening and uniting the vital spirits , and so strengthening nature , a great power and vertue to cure divers diseases : for an evident proof of mistaking in the like case , i pray what foolish boy , what silly wench , what old doting wife , or ignorant country clown , is not physician for the tooth-ach , for the cholick , and divers such common diseases ; yea , will not every man you meet withall teach you a sundry cure for the fame , and swear by that mean , either himself , or some of his nearest kindsmen and friends was cured ; and yet , i hope , no man is so foolish as to believe them : and all these toys do onely proceed from the mistaking non causam pro causa , as i have already said ; and so if a man chance to recover one of any disease after he hath taken tobacco , that must have the thanks of all : but by the contrary , if a man smoke himself to death with it ( as many have done ) o then some other disease must bear the blame for that fault ! so do old harlots thank their harlotry for their many years , that custom being healthful ( say they ) ad purgandos renes , but never have mind how many die of the pox in the flower of their youth : and so do old drunkards think they prolong their days by their swine-like diet , but never remember how many die drowned in drink before they be half old . and what greater absurdity can there be then to say , that one cure shall serve for divers , nay contrarious sorts of diseases . it is an undoubted ground among all physicians , that there is almost no sort , either of nourishment or medicine , that hath not some thing in it disagreeable to some part of mans body , because , as i have already said , the nature of the temperature of every part is so different from another , that according to the old proverb , that which is good for the head is evil for the neck and the shoulders : for even as a strong enemy that invades a town or fortress , although in his siege thereof he do belay and compass it round about , yet he makes his breach and entry at some one or few special parts thereof , which he hath tryed and found to be weakest and least able to resist : so sickness doth make her particular assault upon such part or parts of our body as are weakest and easiest to be overcome by that sort of disease which then doth assail us , although all the rest of the body , by sympathy , feel it self to be as it were belaid and besieged by the affliction of that special part , the grief and smart thereof being by the sence of feeling dispersed through all the rest of the members ; and therefore the skilful physician presses by such cures to purge and strengthen that part which is afflicted , as are onely fit for that sort of disease , and do best agree with the nature of that infirm part ; which being abused to a disease of another nature , would prove as hurtful to the one , as helpful for the other ; yea , not onely will a skilful and wary physician be careful to use no cure , but that which is fit for that sort of disease ; but he will also consider all other circumstances , and make the remedies sutable thereunto , as the temperature of the clime , where the patient is , the constitution of the planets , the time of the moon , the season of the year , the age and complexion of the patient , the present state of his body in strength or weakness : for one cure must not ever be used for the self same disease but according to the varying of any of the aforesaid circumstances , that sort of remedy must be used which is fittest for the same : where by the contrary in this case , such is the miraculous omnipotency of our strong-tasted tobacco , as it cures all sorts of diseases ( which never any drug could do before ) in all persons , and at all times . it cures all manner of distillations , either in head or stomach ( if you believe their axioms ) although in very deed is do both corrupt the brain , and , by causing over quick digestion , fill the stomach full of crudities . it cures the gout in the feet , and ( which is miraculous ) in that very instant when the smoke thereof , as light , flyes up into the head , the vertue thereof , as heavy , runs down to the little toe : it helps all sorts of agues ; it makes a man sober , that was drunk ; it refreshes a weary man , and yet makes a man hungry ; being taken when they go to bed , it makes one sleep soundly ; and yet being taken when a man is sleepy and drowsie , it will , as they say , awaken his brain , and quicken his understanding ; as for curing of the pox , it serves for that use , but among the pocky indian slaves . here in england it is refined , and will not deign to cure here any other then cleanly and gentlemanly diseases . o omnipotent power of tobacco ! and if it could by the smoke thereof chase out devils , as he smoke of tobias fish did ( which , i am sure , could smell no stronger ) it would serve for a precious relict , both for the superstitious priests , and the insolent puritans , to cast out devils withall . admitting then , and not confessing , that the use thereof were healthful for some sorts of diseases , should it be used for all sicknesses ? should it be used by all men ? should it be used at all times ? yea , should it be used by able , young , strong , healthful men ? medicine hath that vertue , that it never leaves a man in that state wherein it finds him ; it makes a sick man whole , but a whole man sick : and as medicine helps nature , being taken at time of necessity ; so being ever and continually used , it doth but weaken , weary , and wear nature . what speak i of medicine ? nay , let a man every hour of the day , or as oft as many in this country use to take tobacco ; let a man , i say , but take as oft the best sorts of nourishments , in meat and drink , that can be devised , he shall , with the continual use thereof , weaken both his head and his stomach , all his members shall become feeble , his spirits dull , and in the end , as a drowsie , lasie belly-god , he shall ●vanish in a lethargy . and from this weakness it preceeds , that many in this kingdom have had such a continual use of taking this unsavory smoke , as now they are not able to forbear the same , no more then an old drunkard can abide to be long sober , without falling into an incurable weakness , and evil constitution ; for their continual custom hath made to them habitum , alteram naturam : so to those that , from their birth , have been continually nourished upon poyson , and things venemous , wholesome meats are onely poysonable . thus having , as i trust , sufficiently answered the most principal arguments that are used in defence of this vile custome . it rests onely to inform you , what sins and vanities you commit in the filthy abuse thereof : first , are you not guilty of sinful and shameful lust , ( for lust may be as well in any of the sences as in feeling ) that although you be troubled with no disease , but in perfect health , yet can you neither be merry at an ordinary , nor lascivious in the stews , if you lack tobacco to provoke your apetite to any of those sorts of recreation ; lusting after it as the children of israel did in the wilderness after quails . secondly , it is as you use , or rather abuse it , a branch of the sin of drunkenness , which is the root of all sins ; for as the onely delight that drunkards take in wine , is in the strength of the tast , and the force of the some thereof that mounts up to the brain ; for no drunkards love any weak or sweet drink ; so are not those ( i mean the strong heat and fume ) the only qualities that make tobacco so delectable to all the lovers of it ? and as no man likes strong heady drink the first day ( because nemo repente fit turpissimus ) but by custom is piece and piece allured , while , in the end , a drunkard will have as great a thrist to be drunk , as a sober man to quench his thirst with a draught , when he hath need of it . so is not this the very case of all the great takers of tobacco , which therefore they themselves do attribute to a bewitching quality in it ? thirdly , is it not the greatest sin of all , that you , the people of all sorts of this kingdom , who are created and ordained by god , to bestow both your persons and goods for the maintainance both of the honour and safety of your king and common-wealth , should disable your selves in both ? in your persons , having by this continual vile custom brought your selves to this shameful imbecillity , that you are not able to ride or walk the journey of a jews sabbath , but you must have reeky coal brought you from the next poor house to kindle your tobacco with ; whereas he cannot be thought able for any service in the wars , that cannot endure oftentimes the want of meat , drink and sleep , much more then must he endure the want of tobacco : in the times of the many glorious and victorious battles fought by this nation , there was no word of tobacco ; but now if it were time of wars , and that you were to make some sudden cavalcado upon your enemies ; if any of you should seek leisure to stay behind his fellow for taking of tobacco , for my part , i should never be sorry for any evil chance that might befall him : to take a custome in any thing that cannot be left again , is most harmful to the people of any land. mollities and delicacy were the rack and overthrow , first of the persian , and next of the roman empire . and this very custom of taking tobacco ( whereof our present purpose is ) is even at this day accompted so effeminate among the indians themselves , as in the market they will offer no price for a slave to be sold , whom they find to be a great tobacco-taker . now how you are by this custome disabed in your goods , let the gentry of this land bear witness , some of them bestowing three , some four hundred pounds a year upon this precious stink , which , i am sure , might be bestowed upon many far better uses . i read indeed of a knavish courtier , who for abusing the favour of the emperour alexander severus , his master , by taking bribes to intercede for sundry persons in his masters ear ( for whom he never once opened his mouth ) was justly choked with smoke , with this doom , fumo pereat quifummum vendidit . but of so many smoke-buyers as are at this present in this kingdom , i never read nor heard . and for the vanities committed in this filthy custome , is it not both great vanity and uncleanness , that at the table , a place of respect , of cleanliness , of modesty , men should not be ashamed to sit tossing of tobacco-pipes , and puffing of the smoke of tobacco one to another , making the filthy smoke and stink thereof to exhale athwart the dishes , and infect the air , when very often men that abhor it are at their repast : surely smoke becomes a kitchin far better then a dining-chamber , and yet it makes a kitchin also oftentimes in the inward parts of men , soyling and infecting them with an unctious and oylie kind of soot , as hath been found in some great tobacco-takers , that after their death were opened : and not onely meat-time , but no other time nor action is exempted from the publique use of this uncivil trick ; so as if the wives of diep list to contest with this nation for good manners , their worst manners would in all reason be found at least not so dishonest ( as ours are ) in this point , the publick use whereof at all times , and in all places , hath now so far prevailed , as divers men very sound both in judgment and complexion , have been at last forced to take it also , without desire , partly because they were ashamed to seem singular , ( like the two philosophers that were forced to duck themselves in that rain-water , and so became fools as well as the rest of the people ) and partly to be as one that was content to eat garlick ( which he did not love ) that he might not be troubled with the smell of it in the breath of his fellows . and is it not a great vanity that a man cannot heartily welcome his friend now , but straight they must be in hand with tobacco : no , it is become in place of a cure , a point of good fellowship ; and he that will refuse to take a pipe of tobacco among his fellows ( though by his own election he would rather smell the savor of a sink ) is accompted peevish , and no good company ; even as they do with tipling in the cold eastern-countries , yea the mistriss cannot in a more mannerly kind entertain her servant , then by giving him out of her fair hand a pipe of tobacco ; but herein is not only a great vanity , but a great contempt of god's good gifts , that the sweetness of mans breath being a good gift of god , should be wilfully corrupted by this stinking smoke , wherein i must confess it hath too strong of vertue , and so that which is an ornament of nature , and can neither by any artifice be at the first acquired , nor once lost be recovered again , shall be filthily corrupted with an incurable stink , which vile quality is as directly contrary to that wrong opinion which is holden of the wholesomeness thereof , as the venome of putrifaction is contrary to the vertue preservative . moreover , which is a great iniquity , and against all humanity , the husband shall not be ashamed to reduce thereby his delicate , wholesome , and clean-complexion'd wife to that extremity , that either she must also corrupt her sweet breath therewith , or else resolve to live in a perpetual stinking torment . have you not reason then to be ashamed , and to forbear this filthy novelty , so basely grounded , so foolishly received , and so grosly mistaken in the right use thereof : in your abuse thereof sinning against god , harming your selves both in persons and goods , and raking also thereby the marks and notes of vanity upon you ; by the custome thereof , making your selves to be wondered at by all forreign civil nations , and by all strangers that come among you , to be scorned and contempted ; a custome loathsome to the eye , hateful to the nose , harmful to the brain , dangerous to the lungs , and in the black stinking fume thereof , nearest resembling the horrible stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomless . dr. maynwaring's serious cautions against tobacco , collected out of his treatise of the scurvy , page 70. another grand procuring and promoting cause of the scurvy is , tobacco ; not taken notice of by any i meet with in print . and here we may charge much of the frequency , and the unwonted phaenomena , or symptomatical appearance of this disease , upon the late custome of taking tobacco . many wonder that the scurvy should so much abound now in most places , and become so common and obvious now to every eye , that was so rarely taken notice of in former times , notwithstanding some of its procuring causes were very antique . but we need not wonder so much , if we consider the manner of living in former ages , compared with our own ; new customes and diets beget new diseases , or modifie the old so , as they seem to be new , in their unwonted manner , or frequency of appearance . the scurvy being altered and differenced now from what it was in ancient times ; that the phaenomena or symptomes of the disease in the syndrome and concurrence , is not exact alike with the description of the ancients ; which hath caused a doubt , and it is held by some physicians , that the scurvy is a new disease : but it is the old scurvy dressed in a new garb , which by new procuring causes , and additional complications , is become more depravel , more frequent , and more enlarged : few persons but harbour this unwelcome guest . as an additional procurer of the scurvy , tobacco comes now to be examined , since whose general use the scurvy hath much increased , and is become the most epidemical . that this plant is injurious and destructive to nature , and consequently an introducer of the scurvy will appear , if we consider the effects that supervene and follow the taking of it . the consequents or effects may be divided into two sorts ; first , such as accompany or supervene the first use of it . secondly , such as follow the long and constant use of it . symptoms arising upon the first and unaccustomed use of smoking it , are vomiting , giddiness , fainting , drunkenness sleepiness , depravation of the sences , and such like as follow upon the taking of some kind of poysons . effects upon the accustomed familiar use of it , are , salivation , drawing a flux of moisture to the mouth , and drayning the body ; heat , dryness , lassitude and weariness of the spirits , a dulness and indisposition of mind after ; apt to sleep , a filthy unsavory tast in the mouth , a check to to the stomach or appetite . the latent and more secret effects wrought in the body by the constant smoking of tobacco , are ; the inducing a scorbutick disposition , and promoting it where it is already radicated . and this is procured these wayes : first , by depressing the spirits , and alienating them from their genuine propriety and purity . secondly , by vitiating the stomach , and depraving the palate . thirdly , by exhausting the dulcid good juyce of the body , leaving behind and procuring the remainder more viscous , acrid and sharpe . fourthly , by prejudicing and weakening the lungs and vital parts . that it hath a property to depress and clog the spirits , is apparent by its narcotick vertue , causing a dulness , heaviness , lassitude , and disposing to sleep after the use of it . that it alienates the spirits , is concluded from its virulent nature , and discord with our nature , and that is argued from the symptoms that attend the first use . that it is noxious to the stomach ( the first grand laboratory of the body ) is rational to assert ; for as tobacco affects the mouth with an ill stinking tast , so the stomach also goes not free , but is tainted with it , which is communicated to the food received . now considering the nature of tobacco , as it is hot and dry , acrid , salt , biting , purgative , or rather virulent , altogether medicinal , and not alimental ; and this constantly to impregnate and tincture our nutimental success with these properties and qualities , we cannot otherwise expect by length of time and daily use , but that it will shew its power and vertue to change and alter our bodies ; since it is not nutritive , but medicinal , estranged , and at a great distance from the nature of our bodies , not fit to nourish , but to alter and produce some notable effects . so great a sympathy there is between the stomach and mouth , that the one is not affected , but the other is drawn into consent ; if the stomach be foul , the mouth hath an ill relish ; and if the mouth distasts any thing , the stomach nauseates at it . now this great harmony and consent between these two , ariseth upon this accompt ; the mouth is appointed by nature the stomachs taster , to judge and discern what is fit and agreeable for the stomach to receive ; and therefore the same membrane which invests the mouth , and is the instrument of tasting , does also line the stomach , so that hereby what is pleasant and acceptable in the mouth , is gratefully received into the stomach ; now by this affinity and sympathy , you may rationally conclude , that vitiating of the tast by tobacco and tainting the mouth with its stinking scent , must of necessity communicate the same to the stomach , which takes physick every time you take tobacco , does mix with and infect the chile of the stomach , and is conveyed with it into all parts of the body ; and having so great a medicinal power , must needs alter and change the body , according to the properties it is endowed with , by the constant use , and daily reception of it . now tobacco being of an accrimonious , hot , dry , &c. nature , does pervert and change the balsamick juyces of the body into a more sharpe and fiery temper , and alienate them , whereby they are not so amicable and fit for nutrition , as many scorbutick tobacconists do evidence upon examination , and their constitution changed by the evil use of this plant ; and it is very reasonable to expect it , and impute such alterations to the use thereof , since they are the proper effects of such a cause ; the more remarkable discovery , and frequency of the scurvy , may well and justly be imputed to tobacco , since of latter years that tobacco hath been in use , and in those countries where tobacco is much taken , it doth abound most . although i discommend the use of tobacco by smoking it , as an injurious custome , yet i highly applaud it , as very medicinal , being rightly used . i remember about fifteen years since , a patient of mine in derby-shire fell into a great paroxysm of an asthma , almost to suffocation , i exhibited a dose of the sirrup of tobacco , which gave him present help , and within a few hours was relieved , that he could draw his breath with much ease and freedome : and about a year after , at maxfield in cheshire , i cured a gentlewoman of an ulcer in ano of seven years standing , chiefly with the ointment of tobacco ; and although other things were used , yet i ascribe most of the cure to that unguent . and in many other cases tobacco is of good use , which i have experienced ; but smoking of it i find to be hurtful , if it be customary . i shall not be so strict and severe against the use of it , as to forbid all persons the smoking it upon any score whatever ; for that which may be used at certain times as medicinal , upon just occasions requiring in some persons , may prove very bad and pernicious upon the constant and general use ; and this is the case of tobacco . tobacconists , whom custome hath ensnared , and brought them to delight in it , are willing to be perswaded and deluded , that it is good and wholesome , at least harmless ; the pretences which they urge in defence of it , are such as these : some plead for it , and use it after meat , as a help to digestion , and therefore take it as a good remedy against a bad stomach and weak digestion . to this i answer , they are much mistaken herein , not distinguishing between digestion , and precipitation of meat out of the stomach ; digestion is not performed but in due time , by retexture , alteration , fermentation , and volatization of meat , and till then , is not fit to pass out of the digestive-office , which requires some hours more or less , according to the nature of the food received , of facil or difficil digestion ; now that which provokes the stomach to a distribution of semi-digested chyle , and unloading it self before digestion be finished and perfected , offers great injury to the body ; and this is the case of tobacco ( by its lavative stimulating properties ) which error committed in the first digestive-office is not corrected , nor the damage recompenced by the accuteness and strong elaborations of the subsequent digestions ; and for this reason in part , the scurvy is procured hereby . some take tobacco for refreshment after labour , and divertisement of serious thoughts , being tired with business , study and musing . true it is , tobacco puts a suspension upon serious thoughts , and gives a relaxation for a time in some persons ; others contemplate , and run over their business with more delight , by the help and during the taking of a pipe : but both these persons though seemingly delighted and refreshed for a short time , yet afterwards the spirits are lassated and tired , and are more flat , dull and somnolent , when the pipe is out ; this was but a cheat , the spirits were not truly refreshed , invigorated and reinforced ; as wine does enliven and make brisk the spirits , by affording and communicating an additional supply ; but by the fume of tobacco the spirits are a little inebriated and agitated by an other motion then their own , which is a seeming refreshment , and short , not real , substantial and lasting . others plead for tobacco , and take it as a remedy against rheume , because a great dryer and exhauster of superfluous moisture . to evince the error of this opinion , consider what is the cause whereby rheumes and crude moisture in the body do abound ; and then you will plainly see , whether smoking tobacco be a proper or likely remedy to prevent or oppose it . phlegm and superfluous moisture does arise and abound in the body , from a deficiency and debility of the digestions , as also impediment or impotency of the expulsive faculty , that the remainders after digestion be not transmitted by the common ductures . now this fume of tobacco gives no roboration , adds no strength to the digestive faculties , having no symbolical qualities to comply with , and assist them , is very plain . also that separation and expulsion of superfluous moisture by this fume , is not promoted and transmitted through the more commodious ductures and passages appointed by nature for emission ; onely a salivation by the mouth is procured , which brings no advantage , but detriment ; for this flux of moisture doth not arise as critical , from the impulsion of nature , separating and protruding ; but from a promiscuous attraction of fluid moisture , ( by vertue of its acrimonious heat ) as well the landable , util succus , as the degenerated and superfluous ; so that constantly draining the body of this dulcid serosity , must cause many inconveniencies through the want of it , in as much as it is very serviceable to the body , in the integrity of its nature , but being alienated , is then reduced or vented by better means , nature concurring with the medicine : but admit this did attract only excrementitious moisture ( which it does not ) yet considering it vitiates the stomach , and impregnates the chyle , with its evil properties , 't is much better to forbear then to use it ; that benefit would not recompence this injury . and further , that which is a preventing or curative remedy of superfluous moisture , rheume , or phlegmatique matter , applies à priori to the digestions , the springs from whence such effects do arise ; not à posteriori to the producted matter , which this fume seems to pump out , but does not stop the leak , is therefore no radical medicine ; and they that smoke tobacco upon this accompt as a great dryer , and exhauster of superfluous moisture , are much deceived in the expected benefit ; it onely brings a current of moisture , which ought to be expended otherwise , but it abates nothing in the fountain or springs ; rather augments , and makes an overflow , ( for the reasons aforesaid ) as tobacconists do evidence by their much spitting . object . some may say , i never took tobacco , and yet i have the symptomes of the scurvy as bad as any that have taken it . answ . this may be so , from other great procuring causes ; and yet tobacco notwithstanding may be one great procurer in other persons . the scurvy does not require all the procuring causes to concur in its production , but sometimes one , and sometimes another is able to do it ; and although you take no tobacco , yet perhaps your parents did , or theirs ; and it is sufficient to make you fare the worse ; bad customes and abusive living extends farther then the person so offending : it is transmitted to their off-spring , as in another work i have noted in these words . but yet the crime were less , if onely to themselves the prejudice did extend , but also to posterity their diseases are propagated ; the children having impressed upon them , and radicated in the principals of their nature , the seminal power and productive vertue of inordinate and intemperate living of their genitors and progenitors , that the children may bear witness to the following age , the vice and folly of their parents and predecessors , recorded and characterised in them , &c. hereby you may understand , that evil customes ( as of smoking tobacco ) do not injure onely the person doing so , but the generation after them are prejudiced : and , here by the way , we may take notice of the many rickity children in this latter age , since the use of tobacco , which disease was not known , before the frequent use of it . tobacco does enervate and debilitate the faculties , that we may rationally expect the children from this generation to be scorbutick , rickity , and more feeble then formerly . amurath the fourth of that name , grand seignior of the turkish empire , put forth his edict againgst the smoking of tobacco , and made it a capital crime for any that should so use it ; the reason of this severe prohibition was , that it did render his people infertile : i shall not urge the inconvenience of . tobacco so far , but this i may assext , that it causeth an infirm generation , by debilitating the parents , and rendering them scorbutick , which impressions are carried in semine to their children , and makes a diseased issue . and i observed in virginia , being some time in that colony , that the planters who had lived long there , being great smokers , were of a withered decayed countenance , and very scorbutick , being exhausted by this imoderate fume ; nor are they long-lived , but do shorten their dayes by the intemperate use of tobacco and brandy . king james , that learned philosophical prince of this nation , wisely considering the nature of this plant , and having a good stoxastick head to foresee the inconveniencies that would arise to his people , by the ill custome of smoking it , he being the great physcian of the body politick , does excellently dehort his subjects ( being tender of their future welfare ) from this noxious fume , and writes an invective against it ; whose oratory and solid arguments were enough to have broken the neck of this custome , had they any regard to his kindness , or sense of their own good , and of their posterity . i might have enlarged my self upon this subject , and run over most scorbutick symptomes , shewing how they are either first procured or aggravated by this fume : but from what hath been said already , it plainly appears , that tobacco is a great procurer and promoter of the scurvy , in as much as many scorbutick symptomes are the proper effects of smoking tobacco , as lassitude , dulness , somnolency , spitting , ill tast in the mouth , &c. and although some few persons either by the strength of nature , do strongly resist the bad impressions it sets upon several parts of the body , or by the peculiarity of nature is less offensive and hurtful to some , or brings some particular benefit ( amongst its many ill properties ) that makes it seemingly good ; yet insensibly and by time it damageth all ; and those few good effects in some few persons are not of validity to give it a general approbation and use , and free it from the censure of a great procurer of the scurvy , but may be justly reckoned in that catalogue . preservation of health in the choice of drinks , and regular drinking . drink for necessity , not for bad fellowship ; especially soon after meat , which hinders the due fermentation of the stomach , and washeth down before digestion be finished : but after the first concoction , if you have a hot stomach , a dry or costive body , you may drink more freely then others : or if thirst importunes you at any time , to satisfie with a moderate draught is better then to forbear . accustom youth and strong stomachs to small drink , but stronger drink , and wine , to the infirm and aged : it chears the spirits , quickens the appetite , and helps digestion , moderately taken : but being used in excess , disturbs the course of nature , and procures many diseases : for corpulent gross and fat bodies , thin , hungry , abstersive penetrating wines are best , as white-wine , rhenish , and such like . for lean thin bodies ; black , red and yellow wines , sweet , full bodied and fragrant , are more fit and agreeable ; as malaga , muscadel , tent , alicant and such like . for drink , whether it be wholsomer warmed than cold , is much controverted ; some stifly contending for the one , and some for the other : i shall rather chuse the middle way , with limitation and distinction , then impose it upon all as a rule to be observed under the penalty of forfeiting their health , the observations of the one or the other . there are three sorts of persons , one cannot drink cold beer , the other cannot drink warm , the third , either : you that cannot drink cold beer , to you it is hurtful , cools the stomach , and checks it much : therefore keep to warm drink as a wholsome custome : you that cannot drink warm beer , that is , find no refreshment , nor thirst satified by it , you may drink it cold , nor is it injurious to you : you that are indifferent and can drink either , drink yours cold , or warmed , as the company does , since your stomach makes no choice . that warm drink is no bad custom , but agreeable to nature in the generality ; first , because it comes the nearest to the natural temper of the body , and similia similibus conservantur , every thing is preserved by its like , and destroyed by its contrary . secondly , though i do not hold it the principal agent in digestion , yet it does excite , is auxiliary , and a necessary concomitant of a good digestion , ut signum & causa . thirdly , omne frigus per se , & proviribus destruit ; cold in its own nature , and according to the graduation of its power , extinguisheth natural heat , and is destructive ; but per accidens , and as it is in gradu remisso , it may contemperate , allay , and refresh , where heat abounds , and is exalted . therefore as there is variety of palates and stomachs liking and agreeing best with such kind of meats and drinks , which to others are utterly disgustful , disagreeing and injurious , though good in themselves : so is it in drink warmed or cold ; what one finds a benefit in , the other receives a prejudice ; at least does not find that satisfaction and refreshment , under such a qualification ; because of the various natures , particular appetitions , and idiosyncratical properties of several bodies , one thing will not agree with all : therefore he that cannot drink warm , let him take it cold , and it is well to him ; but he that drinks it warm , does better . and this is to be understood in winter , when the extremity of cold hath congelated and fixed the spirits of the liquor in a torpid inactivity ; which by a gentle warmth are unfettered , volatile and brisk ; whereby the drink is more agreeable and grateful to the stomachs fermenting heat being so prepared , then to be made so by it . there are three sorts of drinkers : one drinks to satisfie nature , and to support his body ; without which he cannot well subsist , and requires it as recessary to his being . another drinks a degree beyond this man , and takes a larger dose , with this intention , to exhilarate and chear his mind , to banish cares and trouble , and help him to sleep the better ; and these two are lawful drinkers . a third drinks neither for the good of the body , or the mind , but to stupifie and drown both ; by exceeding the former bounds , and running into excess , frustrating those ends for which drink was appointed by nature ; converting this support of life and health , making it a procurer of sickness and untimely death . many such there are , who drink not to satifie nature , but force it down many times contrary to natural inclination ; and when there is a reluctancy against it : as drunkards , that pour in liquor , not for love of the drink , or that nature requires it by thirst , but onely to maintain the mad frollick , and keep the company from breaking up . some to excuse this intemperance , hold it as good physick to be drunk once a moneth , and plead for that liberty as a wholsome custome , and quote the authority of a famous physician for it . whether this opinion be allowable , and to be admitted in the due regiment for preservation of health , is fit to be examined . it is a canon established upon good reason ; that every thing exceeding its just bounds , and golden mediocrity , is hurtful to nature . the best of things are not excepted in this general rule ; but are restrained and limited here to a due proportion . the supports of life may prove the procurers of death , if not qualified and made wholsome by this corrective . meat and drink is no longer sustenance , but a load and overcharge , if they exceed the quantum due to each particular person ; and then they are not , what they are properly in themselves , and by the appointment of nature , the preservatives of life and health ; but the causes of sickness , and consequently of death . drink was not appointed man , to discompose and disorder him in all his faculties , but to supply , nourish , and strengthen them . drink exceeding its measure , is no longer a refreshment , to irrigate and water the thirsty body , but makes an inundation to drown and suffocate the vital powers . it puts a man out of the state of health , and represents him in such a degenerate condition both in respect of body and mind , that we may look upon the man , as going out of the world , because he is already gone out of himself , and strangely metamorphosed from what he was . i never knew sickness or a disease , to be good preventing physick ; and to be drunk , is no other then an unsound state , and the whole body out of frame by this great change . what difference is there between sickness and drunkenness ? truly i cannot distinguish them otherwise then as genus and species : drunkenness being a raging disease , denominated and distinguished from other sicknesses , by its procatarctick or procuring cause , drink . that drunkenness is a disease or sickness , will appear in that it hath all the requisites to constitute a disease , and is far distant from a state of health : for as health is the free and regular discharge of all the functions of the body and mind ; and sickness , when the functions are not performed , or weakly and depravedly : then ebriety may properly be said to be a disease or sickness , because it hath the symptoms and diagnostick signs , of an acute and great disease : for , during the time of drunkenness , and some time after , few of the faculties perform rightly , but very depravedly and preternatually : if we examine the intellectual faculties , we shall find the reason gone , the memory lost or much abated , and the will strangely perverted : if we look into the sensitive faculties , they are disordered , and their functions impedited , or performed very deficiently : the eyes do not see well , nor the ears hear well , nor the palate remifh , &c. the speech faulters and is imperfect ; the stomach perhaps vomits or nauseates ; his legs fail : indeed if we look through the whole man , we shall see all the faculties depraved , and their functions either not executed , or very disorderly and with much deficiency . now according to these symptoms in other sicknesses , we judge a man not likely to live long ; and that it is very hard he should recover ; the danger is so great from the many threatning symptoms that attend this sickness , and prognosticate a bad event : here is nothing appears salutary ; but from head to foot , the disease is prevalent in every part ; which being collated , the syndrom is lethal , and judgment to be given so . surely then drunkenness is a very great disease for the time , but because it is not usually mortal , nor lasts long ; therefore it it slighted , and look't upon as a trivial matter that will cure it self . but now the question may be asked ; why is not drunkenness usually mortal ? since the same signs in other diseases are accounted mortal , and the event proves if so . to which i answer ; all the hopes we have that a man drunk should live , is ; first , from common experience that it is not deadly : secondly , from the nature of the primitive or procuring cause , strong drink or wine ; which although it rage , and strangely discompose the man for a time , yet it lasts not long , nor is mortal . the inebriating spirits of the liquor , flowing in so fast , and joyning with the spirits of mans body , make so high a tide , that overflows all the banks and bounds of order : for , the spirits of mans body , those agents in each faculty , act smoothly , regularly and constantly , with a moderate supply ; but being overcharged , and forced out of their natural course , and exercise of their duty , by the large addition of furious spirits ; spurs the functions into strange disorders , as if nature were conflicting with death and dissolution ; but yet it proves not mortal . and this , first , because these adventitious spirits are amicable and friendly to our bodies in their own nature , and therefore not so deadly injurious , as that which is not so familiar or noxious . secondly , because they are very volatile , light , and active ; nature therefore does much sooner recover her self , transpires and sends forth the overplus received ; then if the morbifick matter were more ponderous and fixed ; the gravamen from thence would be much worse and longer in removing : as an over-charge of meat , bread , fruit , or such like substances not spirituous ; but dull and heavy ( comparativè ) is of more difficult digestion , and layes a greater and more dangerous load upon the faculties , having not such volatile brisk spirits to assist nature , nor of so liquid a fine substance , of quicker and easier digestion : so that the symptoms from thence are much more dangerous , then those peracute distempers arising from liquors . so likewise those bad symptoms in other diseases are more to be feared and accounted mortal ( then the like arising from drunkenness ) because those perhaps depend upon malignant causes ; or such as by time are radicated in the body ; or from the defection of some principal part : but the storm and discomposure arising from drunkenness , as it is suddenly raised , so commonly it soon falls , depending upon benign causes , and a spiritucus matter , that layes not so great an oppression ; but inebriates the spirits , that they act very disorderly and unwontedly ; or by the soporiferous vertue , stupefies them for a time , untill they recover their agility again . but all this while , i do not see , that to be drunk once a moneth , should prove good physick : all i think that can be said in this behalf , is ; that by overcharging the stomach , vomiting is procured ; and so carries off something that was lodged there , which might breed diseases . this is a bad excuse for good fellows , and a poor plea for drunkenness : for the gaining of one supposed benefit ( which might be obtained otherwise ) you introduce twenty inconveniences by it . i do not like the preventing of one disease that may be , by procuring of one at the present certainly , and many hereafter most probably : and if the disease feared , or may be , could be prevented no otherwise , but by this drunken means ; then that might tollerate and allow it : but there are other wayes better and safer to cleanse the body either upwards or downwards , then by overcharging with strong drink , and making the man to unman himself ; the evil consequents of which are many , the benefit hoped for , but pretended ; or if any , but very small and inconsiderable . and although , as i said before , the drunken fit is not mortal , and the danger perhaps not great for the present ; yet those drunken bouts being repeated ; the relicts do accumulate , debilitate nature , and lay the foundation of many chronick diseases . nor can it be expected otherwise ; but you may justly conclude from the manifest irregular actions which appear to us externally , that the functions within also , and their motions are strangely disordered : for , the outward madness and unwonted actions , proceed from the internal impulses , and disordered motions of the faculties : which general disturbance and discomposure ( being frequent ) must needs subvert the oeconomy and government of humance nature ; and consequently ruine the fabrick of mans body . the ill effects , and more eminent products of ebriety , are ; first , a changing of the natural tone of the stomach , and alienating the digestive faculty ; that instead of a good transmutation of food , a degenerate chyle is produced . common experience tells , that after a drunken debauch , the stomach loseth its appetite , and acuteness of digestion ; as belching , thirst , disrelish , nauseating , do certainly testifie : yet to support nature , and continue the custom of eating , some-food is received ; but we cannot expect from such a stomach that a good digestion should follow : and it is some dayes before the stomach recover its eucrasy , and perform its office well : and if these miscarriages happen but seldom , the injury is the less , and sooner recompenced ; but by the frequent repetition of these ruinous practices , the stomach is overthrown and alienated from its integrity . secondly , an unwholsome corpulency and cachectick plenitude of body does follow : or a degenerate macilency , and a decayed consumptive constitution . great drinkers that continue it long , few of them escape , but fall into one of these conditions and habit of body : for , if the stomach discharge not its office aright ; the subsequent digestions will also be defective . so great a consent and dependance is there upon the stomach ; that other parts cannot perform their duty , if this leading principal part be perverted and debauched : nor can it be expected otherwise ; for , from this laboratory and prime office of digestion , all the parts must receive their supply ; which being not suteable , but depraved , are drawn into debauchery also , and a degenerate state ; and the whole body fed with a vitious alimentary succus . now that different products or habits of body should arise from the same kind of debauchery , happens upon this score . as there are different properties and conditions of bodies ; so the result from the same procuring causes shall be much different and various : one puffs up , fills , and grows hydropical ; another pines away , and falls consumptive , from excess in drinking ; and this proceeds from the different disposition of parts : for , in some persons , although the stomach be vitiated , yet the strength of the subsequent digestions is so great , from the integrity and vigor of those parts destinated to such offices ; that they act strenuously , though their object matter be transmitted to them imperfect and degenerate ; and therefore do keep the body plump and full , although the juyces be foul , and of a depraved nature . others è contra , whose parts are not so firm and vigorous ; that will not act upon any score , but with their proper object ; does not endeavour a transmutation of such aliene matter , but receiving it with a nice reluctance , transmits it to be evacuated and sent forth by the next convenient ducture , or emunctory : and from hence the body is frustrated of nutrition , and falls away : so that the pouring in of much liquor ( although it be good in sua natura ) does not beget much aliment , but washeth through the body , and is not assimilated . but here some may object and think ; that washing of the body through with good liquor , should cleanse the body , and make it fit for nourishment , and be like good physick for a foul body . but the effect proves the contrary ; and it is but reason it should be so : for , suppose the liquor ( whether wine , or other ) be pure and good ; yet when the spirit is drawn off from it , the remainder is but dead , flat , thick , and a muddy flegm . as we find in the destillation of wine , or other liquors ; so it is in mans body : the spirit is drawn off first , and all the parts of mans body are ready receivers , and do imbibe that limpid congenerous enlivener , freely and readily : but the remainder , of greatest proportion ; that heavy , dull , phlegmy part , and of a narcotick quality ; lies long fluctuating upon the digestions , and passeth but slowly ; turns sowr , and vitiates the crases of the parts : so that this great inundation , and supposed washing of the body , does but drown the faculties , stupefie or choak the spirits , and defile all the parts ; not purifie and cleanse . and although the more subtile and thinner portion , passeth away in some persons pretty freely by vrine ; yet the grosser and worse part stayes behind , and clogs in the percolation . a third injury , and common , manifest prejudice from intemperate drinking , is ; an imbecillity of the nerves ; which is procured from the disorderly motions of the animal spirits ; being impulsed and agitated preternaturally by the inebriating spirits of strong liquors : which vibration being frequent , begets a habit , and causeth a trepidation of members . transcribed verbatim out of doctor maynwaring's treatise of long life . that it may not be said to be onely one doctors opinion , here is added another collection against tobacco-smoking , written by the learned doctor george thompson , in his book of preservation of the bloud . a bove all , i much condemn the common abuse of tobacco ; out of which , no other symptomes , than a scorbutical venome is accidentally sucked . agreeable to which judgment of mine , is that of the legitimate artist doctor maynwaring , who marks where tobacco is much taken , the scurvy doth most abound : i wish those who are too forward to condemn chymical preparations , ordered by true philosophers , would reflect upon themselves and others , as yet ignorant of pyrotomy , how that they are too forward in rushing into this science ; indirectly making use of a retort with a receiver , i mean a pipe , and the mouth for the reduction of this plant into salt and sulphur , proving not a little injurious to them . if they were conscious how subtil an enemy it is , how hardly to be dealt withall , in a moderate sense ; how insinuating , tempting , deluding ; how disagreeing to nature , as is manifest at first taking it , pretending an evacuation onely of a superfluous moisture , when it also generates the same ; how it wrongs the ventricle ; by reason of a continuity of its membrane , with that of the mouth ; how it taints the nutricious juyce ; how it dozes the brain , impairing its faculties , especially the memory : they would quickly commit this herb to the hand of those that know what belongs to the right management and improvement thereof . i confess it hath a dowry bestowed upon it , which may make it very acceptable to all ingenious artists , for inward and outward uses ; yet as the matter is handled indiscreetly , i know nothing introduced into this nation hath discovered it self more apparently hurtful , in aggravating and graduating this scorbutical evil among us then tobacco . i am not ignorant what some object , that there are those who taking an extraordinary quantity of tobacco , have lived a to great age , as sixty or seventy years . 2. that multitudes not taking this fume , are yet notwithstanding over run with the scurvy . 3. that some have protested , they have received certain benefit by this plant , when other remedies prescribed by able physitians have been invalid to relieve them . 4. that there are places where man , woman and child , take in this smoke , none of these sad effects appearing . as to the first , i answer , one swallow makes no summer ; i reckon this among raro contingentia : i have known one very intemperate in dier , live to the fore-mentioned age ; but doubtless had he regulated himself according to the rules of mediocrity , he might have doubled that age . innate strength of body doth carry a man sometimes through that , without any great damage , which destroys another . 2. i do not affirm , that this vegetable is the sole co-adjuvant cause of the scurvy , it being certain there are many promoters thereof . besides , yet granted that your great compotators , ventricolae , gormandizers , who have as the grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , lazy panches , little else to do but to take tobacco , to pass away the time ; filling pipe after pipe , as fast as possible they can exhaust it , are commonly incident to this feral malady . hereupon this very same specifick disease may be diffused and communicated to others , by expiration or ffluvium , sent out of a body infected therewith ; so that it seems rare to me , that the wife should be exempted from this cacoettick sickness , if the husband be afflicted therewith ; or the husband be free , if the wife be vexed : doubtless some peoples breath doth exceedingly taint the air , to the great annoyance of others . 3. i condemn not medicinal appropriation and application of this drug , for i knòw it to be of excellent vertue : there is great difference , inter dictum secundum quid & dictum simpliciter , between the censure of any thing as absolutely evil , and the indirect practise of it : moreover , what is one man's meat , may be anothers poyson . 4. the generality of smoking it in some places , without those ill effects we find , doth not at all frustrate my assertion : for i have observed a more moderate course of life in diet , the goodness of the air , with an hereditary custome , hath in great measure ballanced the nocument or inconveniences , which otherwise they would have contracted by excess thereof ; neither are these numerous tobacconists acquitted from this evil , as it appears by those frequent eruptions in the skin , whereby a greater mischief is prevented within , they being only efflorescences of a scorbutical pravity . there are , as i apprehend , two principal reasons to be given , why this weed hath captivated so many thousands in such sort , that they become meer slaves to it . one is , the seeming delight it affords in the present taking thereof , inducing a pleasing bewitching melancholy , exceedingly affecting their fancies , so that they could wish with him in the poet , hic furor , ô superi , sit mihi perpetuus , o that i might alwayes thus melancholize ; not considering though the prologue be chearful , the epilogue is often sad ; though the spirits are as it were titillated , and charmed into a sweet complacency for a short space ; yet afterward a dulness , gloominess , seizes upon them ; indeed , how can it be otherwise , seeing they are but forcibly lulled into this secure placid condition , by that which is as far remote from the vitals , as the beams of the sun are from a black cloud . i find in this smoke , a stinking , retunding , condensing opiatelike sulphur , and an acrid salt , profligating , extimulating , so that by the bridling much of the one , and the excessive spurring of the other ; the spirits , like a free metalsome horse , are quite tired out at last : it is impossible that the frequent insinuations of this subtil fume , making shew of affinity , but quite of another tribe with the animals , should not at length ( let a body be never so strong , and custom how ever prevalent ) either pervert or subvert his well constituted frame . another reason ( observable only by those that are true gnosticks of themselves ) why tobacco is so highly set by , and hath so many followers ; is its meretricious kisses , given to those that embrace it : oftentimes secretly wounding them mortally , yet are they not throughly sensible who gave them the stroke . i have taken notice of very temperate persons in other things , who , for diversion , have indulged their genious , ad hilaritatem , continuing for urbanitysake in company they liked , longer then ordinary , have so closely pursued this pernicious art of sucking in the smoke of this herb , that never any chymist was more solicitous , in greater hast to fetch his matters over the helm by distillation : behold what the event was ! the next morning i have heard complaints come from them , that their brains were something stupid , dozed , their stomach nauseous , being thirsty , also feaverish : all this they attribute to their transgressing limits of sobriety in drinking , or to the sophisticated adulterated liquors , not finding the least fault with the extravagant use of tobacco , which above all did them the most hurt privately : something i can speak experimentally to this purpose , for having been wedded to it many years past , supposing i had got an antidote against hypochondriack melancholy with an apophlegmatism , to discharge crude matter ; i applauded it in all company , without advertency at that time , how false and treacherous it was , which afterward perceiving , i withdrew my self from the use thereof by degrees , at length was altogether divorced from it . praevisa spicula levius feriunt ; could we see the poysoned arrows that are shot from this plant , questionless we would indeavour to avoid them , that they might less intoxicate us . latet anguis in herba ; we are suddenly surprized by this serpentine plant , before we are aware ; thus that which we take for an antidote , becomes meer poyson to us , supplanting and clancularly confounding the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or good government of this republick , consisting in the strength and goodness of a seminal archeus , vigorous ferments , the just constitution and harmony of every part . needs must then indigestions , crudities , degeneration and illegitimation of the nutricious juyce follow , promoting causes and products of the great poyson of the scurvy . my advice therefore to any immoderate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a fumesucker , is , that he would , as he tenders the salvation of body and soul , wean himself by degrees from excess herein ; if so , doubtless he will find if the scurvy infest him much , an abatement of the tedious symptoms therefore . such as are so accustomed to tobacco , that they cannot forbear it , let what can be said against it ; so that neither the good and solid perswasions of a great , wise , and learned king , nor the wholsome and rational arguments of two able and skilful physicians , will be of force to prevail with them : my advice to such is , while they take it , to meditate on this poem following , by which they may be able to make this double spiritual use of it , viz. i. to see the vanity of the world. ii. the mortality of mankind . which , i think , is the best use can be made of it and the pipe , &c. the indian weed withered quite , green at noon , cut down at night ; shews thy decay , all flesh is hay : thus think , then drink tobacco . the pipe that is so lilly-white , shews thee to be a mortal wight , and even such gone with a touch : thus think , then drink tobacco . and when the smoke ascends on high , think thou behold'st the vanity of worldly stuff , gone with a puff : thus think , then drink tobacco . and when the pipe grows foul within , think on thy souldefil'd with sin , and then the fire it doth require : thus think , then drink tobacco . the ashes that are left behind may serve to put thee still in mind , that unto dust return thou must : thus think , then drink tobacco . answered by george withers thus , thus think , drink no tobacco . woe to drunkards : a sermon preached many years since by mr. samuel ward , preacher of ipswich . prov . 23. verse 29 , 32. to whom is woe ? to whom is sorrow ? to whom is strife ? &c. in the end it will bite like a serpent , and sting like a cockatrice . seer , art thou also blind ? watchman , art thou also drunk , or asleep ? or hath a spirit of slumber put out thine eyes ? up to thy watch-tower , what descriest thou ? ah lord ! what end or number is there of the vanities which mine eyes are weary of beholding ? but what seest thou ? i see men walking like the tops of trees shaken with the wind , like masts of ships reeling on the tempestuous seas . drunkenness , i mean , that hateful night-bird ; which was wont to wait for the twilight , to seek nooks and corners , to avoid the howting and wonderment of boys and girls ; now as if it were some eaglet to dare the sun-light , to fly abroad at high noon in every street , in open markets and fairs , without fear or shame , without controul or punishment , to the disgrace of the nation , the out-facing of magistracy and ministry , the utter undoing ( without timely prevention ) of health and wealth , piety and vertue , town and countrey , church and common-wealth . and doest thou like a dumb dog hold thy peace at these things , dost thou with solomon's sluggard fold thine hands in thy bosome , and give thy self to ease and drowsmess , while the envious man causeth the noisomest and baseth of weeds to over-run the choisest eden of god ? up and arise , lift up thy voice , spare not , and cry aloud ? what shall i cry ? cry , woe and woe again unto the crown of pride , the drunkards of ephraim . take up a parable , and tell them how it stingeth like the cockatrice ; declare unto them the deadly poyson of this odious sin . shew them also the soveragin antidote and cure of it , in the cup that was drunk off by him , that was able to overcome it : cause them to behold the brasen serpent , and be healed . and what though some of these deaf adders will not be charmed nor cured , yea though few or none of this swinish herd of habitual drunkards , accustomed to wallow in their mire ; yea , deeply and irrecoverably plunged by legions of devils into the dead sea of their filthiness ; what if not one of them will be washed , and made clean , but turn again to their vomit , and trample the pearls of all admonition under feet ; yea , turn again , and rend their reprovers with scoffs and scorns , making jests and songs on their alebench : yet may some young ones be deterred , and some novices reclaimed , some parents and magistrates awakened to prevent and suppress the spreading of this gangrene : and god have his work in such as belong to his grace . and what is impossible to the work of his grace ? go to then now ye drunkards , listen not what i , or any ordinary hedge-priest ( as you style us ) but that most wise and experienced royal preacher hath to say unto you . and because you are a dull and thick eared generation , he first deals with you by way of question , a figure of force and impression . to whom is woe ? &c. you use to say , woe be to hypocrites . it 's true , woe be to such and all other witting and willing sinners ; but there are no kind-of offenders on whom woe doth so palpably inevitably attend as to you drunkards . you promise your selves mirth , pleasure , and jollity in your cups ; but for one drop of your mad mirth , be sure of gallons , and tuns of woe , gall , wormwood , and bitterness here and hereafter . other sinners shall taste of the cup , but you shall drink off the dregs of god's wrath and displeasure . to whom is strife : you talk of good fellowship and friendship , but wine is a rager and tumultuous make-bate , and sets you a quarreling , and medling . when wit 's out of the head and strength out of the body , it thrusts even cowards and dastards , unfenced and unarmed , into needless frayes and combats . and then to whom are wounds , broken heads , blue eyes , maimed limbs ? you have a drunken by-word , drunkards take no harm ; but how many are the mishaps and untimely misfortunes that betide such , which though they feel not in drink , they carry as marks and brands to their grave . you pretend you drink healths , and for health ; but to whom are all kind of diseases , infirmities , deformities , pearled faces , palsies , dropfies , head-aches ? if not to drunkards . upon these premises , he forcibly infers his sober and serious advise . look upon these woful effects and evils of drunkenness , and look not upon the wine ; look upon the blue . wounds , upon the red eyes it causeth , and look not on the red colour when it sparkleth in the cup. if there were no worse then these , yet would no wise man be overtaken with wine : as if he should say , what see you in the cup or drink , that countervaileth these dreggs that lie in the bottom . behold , this is the sugar , you are to look for , and the tang it leaves behind . woe and alas , sorrow and strife , shame , poverty and diseases ; these are enough to make it odious , but that which followeth withall , will make it hideous and fearful . for solomon duely considering that he speaks to men past shame and grace , senseless of blowes , and therefore much more of reasons and words , insisteth not upon these party woes ; which they , bewitched and besotted with the love of wine , will easily over-see and over-leap : but sets before their eyes the direful end and fruit , the black and poyfonful tail of this sin . in the end it stingeth like the serpent , it biteth like the cockatrice , ( or adder ) faith our new translation . all interpreters agree , that he means some most virulent serpent , whose poyson is present and deadly . all the woes he hath mentioned before , were but as the sting of some emmet , waspe , or nettle , in comparison of this cockatrice which is even unto death ; death speedy , death painful , and woful death , and that as naturally and inevitably , as opium procureth sleep , as hellebore purgeth , or any poyson killeth . three forked is this sting , and three fold is the death it procureth to all that are strung therewith . the first is , the death of grace ; the second is , of the body : the third is , of soul and body eternal . all sin is the poyson wherewithall the old serpent and red dragon envenomes the soul of man , but no sin ( except it be that which is unto death ) so mortal as this , which though not ever unpardonably , yet for the most part is also irrecoverably and inevitably unto death . seest thou one bitten with any other snake , there is hope and help : as the father said of his son , when he had information of his gaming , of his prodigality , yea , of his whoring : but when he heard that he was poysoned with drunkenness , he gave him for dead , his case for desperate and forlorn . age and experience often cures the other ; but this encreaseth with years , and parteth not till death . whoring is a deep ditch , yet some few shall a man see return and lay hold on the wayes of life , one of a thousand , but scarce one drunkard of ten thousand . one ambrose mentions , and one have i known ; and but one of all that ever i knew or heard of . often have i been asked , and often have i enquired , but never could meet with an instance , save one or two at the most . i speak of drunkards , not of one drunken ; of such who rarely and casually have noah-like been surprised , over-taken at unawares : but if once a custome , ever necessity . wine takes away the heart , and spoils the brain , overthrows the faculties and organs of repentance and resolution . and is it not just with god , that he who will put out his natural light , should have his spiritual extinguished ? he that will deprive himself of reason , should lose also the guide and pilot of reason , god's spirit and grace : he that will wittingly and willingly make himself an habitation of unclean spirits , should not dispossess them at his own pleasure ? most aptly therefore is it translated by tremelius hamorrbois , which gesner confounds with the dipsas , or thirsty serpent , whose poyson breedeth such thirst , drought , and inflamation ; like that of ratsbane , that they never leave drinking , till they burst and die withall . would it not grieve and pitty and christian-soul , to see a towardly hopeful young man , well natured , well nurtured , stung with this cockatrice , bewailing his own case , crying out against the baseness of the sin , inveighing against-company , melting under the perswasions of friends ; yea , protesting against all enticements , vow , covenant , and seriously indent with himself and his friends for the relinquishing of it : and yet if he meet with a companion that holds but up his finger , he follows him as a fool to the stocks , and as an oxe to the slaughter-house , having no power to withstand the temptation ; but in he goes with him to the tipling-house , not considering that the chambers are the chambers of death , and the guests , the guests of death ; and there he continues as one bewitched , or conjured in a spell ; out of which he returns not , till he hath emptied his purse of money , his head of reason , and his heart of all his former seeming grace . there his eyes behold the strange woman , his heart speaketh perverse things , becoming heartless , as one ( saith solomon ) in the heart of the sea , resolving to continue , and return to his vomit , whatsoever it cost him , to make it his daily work . i was sick , and knew it not : i was struck , and felt it not ; when i awake , i will seek it still . and why indeed ( without a miracle ) should any expect that one stung with this viper should shake it off , and ever recover of it again . yea , so far are they from recovering themselves , that they infect and become contagious and pestilent to all they come near . the dragon infusing his venome , and assimulating his elses to himself in no sin so much as in this , that it becomes as good as meat and drink to them , to spend their wit and money to compass ale-house after ale-house ; yea , town after town , to transform others with their circean-cups , till they have made them bruits and swine , worse then themselves . the adulterer and usurer desire to enjoy their sin alone ; but the chiefest pastime of a drunkard is to heat and overcome others with wine , that he may discover their nakedness and glory in their foyl and folly . in a word , excess of wine , and the spirit of grace are opposites ; the former expels the latter out of the heart , as smoke doth bees out of the hive : and makes the man a meer slave and prey to satan and his snares ; when , by this poyson , he hath put out his eyes , and spoyled him of his strength , he useth him as the philistins did sampson , leads him in a string whither he pleaseth , like a very drudge , scorn , and make-sport to himself and his imps ; makes him grind in the mill of all kind of sins and vices . and that i take to be the reason why drunkenness is not specially prohibited in any one of the ten commandments , because it is not the single breach of any one , but in effect the violation of all and every one : it is no one sin , but all sins , because it is the in-let and sluce to all other sins . the devil having moistened , and steeped him in his liquor ; shapes him like soft clay , into what mould he pleaseth : having shaken off his rudder and pilot , dashes his soul upon what rocks , sands , and syrts he listeth , and that with as much ease as a man may push down his body with the least thrust of his hand or finger . he that in his right wits , and sober mood , seems religious , modest , chast , courteous , secret ; in his drunken fits , swears , blasphemes , rages , strikes , talks filthily , blabs all secrets , commits folly , knows no difference of persons or sexes , becomes wholly at satans command , as a dead organ , to be enacted at his will and pleasure . oh that god would be pleased to open the eyes of some drunkard , to see what a dunghill and carrion his soul becomes , and how loathsome effects follow upon thy spiritual death , and sting of this cockatrice , which is the fountain of the other two following , temporal and eternal death ! and well may it be , that some such as are altogether fearless and careless of the former death , will yet tremble , and be moved with that which i shall in the second place tell them . among all other sins that are , none brings forth bodily death so frequently as this , none so ordinarily slays in the act of sin as this . and what can be more horrible then to die in the act of a sin , without the act of repentance ? i pronounce no definitive sentence of damnation upon any particular so dying , but what door of hope or comfort is left to their friends behind of their salvation ? the whore-master he hopes to have a space and time to repent in age , though sometimes it pleaseth god that death strikes cozbi and zimri napping , as the devil is said to slay one of the popes in the instant of his adultery , and carry him quick to hell. the swearer and blasphemer hath commonly space , though seldom grace , to repent and amend : and some rare examples stories afford , of some taken with oaths and blasphemies in their mouths . the thief and oppossor may live , and repent , and make restitution , as zacheus : though i have seen one slain right-out with the timber he stole half an hour before ; and heard of one that having stoln a sheep , and laying it down upon a stone to rest him , was grin'd and hang'd with the strugling of it about his neck . but these are extraordinary and rare cases : god sometimes practising marshal-law , and doing present execution , left fools shall say in their hearts , there were no god , or judgment : but conniving and deferring the most , that men might expect a judge coming , and a solemn day of judgment to come . but this sin of drunkenness is so odious to him , that he makes it self justice , judge and executioner , slaying the ungodly with misfortune , bringing them to untimely shameful ends , in brutish and beastial manner , often in their own vomit and ordure ; sending them sottish , sleeping , and senseless to hell , not leaving them either time , or reason , or grace to repent , and cry so much as lord have mercy upon us . were there ( as in some cities of italy ) an office kept , or a record and register by every coroner in shires and counties , of such dismal events which god hath avenged this sin withall , what a volume would it have made within these few years in this our nation ? how terrible a threater of god's judgments against drunkards , such as might make their hearts to bleed and relent , if not their ears to tingle , to hear of a taste of some few such noted and remarkable examples of god's justice , as have come within the compass of mine own notice , and certain knowledge ; i think i should offend to conceal them from the world , whom they may happily keep from being the like to others , themselves . an ale-wife in kesgrave , near to ipswich , who would needs force three serving-men ( that had been drinking in her house , and were taking their leaves ) to stay and drink the three ou ts first , that is , wit out of the head , money out of the purse , ale out of the pot ; as she was coming towards them with the pot in her hand , was suddenly taken speechless and sick , her tongue swoln in her mouth , never recovered speech , the third day after died . this sir anthony felton , the next gentleman and justice , with divers others eve-witnesses of her in sickness related to me ; whereupon i went to the house with two or three witnesses , and inquired the truth of it . two servants of a brewer in ipswich , drinking for a rumpe of a turkie , strugling in their drink for it , fell into a scading caldron backwards : whereof the one died presently , the other lingringly and painfully since my coming to ipswich . anno 1619. a miller in bromeswell , coming home drunk from woodbridge ( as he oft did ) would needs go and swim in the milpond : his wife and servants knowing he could not swim , disswaded him , once by intreaty got him out of the water , but in he would needs go again , and there was drowned : i was at the house to inquire of this , and found it to be true . in barnewell , near to cambridge , one at the sign of the plough , a lusty young man , with two of his neighbours , and one woman in their company , agreed to drink a barrel of strong beer ; they drank up the vessel , three of them dyed within twenty four hours , the fourth hardly escaped after great sickness . this i have under a justice of peace his hand near dwelling , besides the common same . a butcher in hastingfield hearing the minister inveigh against drunkenness , being at his cups in the ale-house , fell a jesting and scoffing at the minister and his sermons : and as he was drinking , the drink , or something in the cup , quackled him , stuck so in his throat , that he could get it neither up nor down , but strangled him presently . at tillingham in dengy hundred in essex , three young men meeting to drink strong waters , fell by degrees to half pints : one fell dead in the room , and the other prevented by company coming in , escaped not without much sickness . at bungey in norfolk , three coming out of an ale-house in a very dark evening , swore , they thought it was not darker in hell it self : one of them fell off the bridge into the water , and was drowned ; the second fell off his horse , the third sleeping on the ground by the rivers-side , was frozen to death : this have i often heard , but have no certain ground for the truth of it it . a bayliff of hadly , upon the lords-day , being drunk at melford , would needs get upon his mare , to ride through the street , affirming ( as the report goes ) that his mare would carry him to the devil ; his mare casts him off , and broke his neck instantly . reported by sundry sufficient witnesses . company drinking in an ale-house at harwith in the night , over against one master russels , and by him out of his window once or twice willed to depart ; at length he came down , and took one of them , and made as if he would carry him to prison , who drawing his knife , fled from him , and was three days after taken out of the sea with the knife in his hand . related to me by master russel himself , mayor of the town . at tenby in pembrokeshire , a drunkard being exceeding drunk , broke himself all to pieces off an high and steep rock , in a most fearful manner ; and yet the occasion and circumstances of his fall were so ridiculous , as i think not fit to relate , lest , in so serious a judgment , i should move laughter to the reader . a glasier in chancery-lane in london , noted formerly for profession , fell to a common course of drinking , whereof being oft by his wife and many christian friends admonished , yet presuming much of god's mercy to himself , continued therein , till , upon a time , having surcharged his stomach with drink , he fell a vomiting , broke a vein , lay two days in extreme pain of body , and distress of mind , till in the end recovering a little comfort , he died : both these examples related to me by a gentleman of worth upon his own knowledge . four sundry instances of drunkards wallowing and tumbling in their drink , slain by carts ; i forbear to mention , because such examples are so common and ordinary . a yeoman's son in northamptonshire , who being drunk at wellingborough on a market-day , would needs ride his horse in a bravery over the plowed-lands , fell from his horse , and brake his neck : reported to me by a kinsman of his own . a knight notoriously given to drunkenness , carrying sometime payls of drink into the open field , to make people drunk withall ; being upon a time drinking with company , a woman comes in , delivering him a ring with this posie , drink and die ; saying to him , this is for you ; which he took and wore , and within a week after came to his end by drinking : reported by sundry , and justified by a minister dwelling within a mile of the place . two examples have i known of children that murthered their own mothers in drink ; and one notorious drunkard that attempted to kill his father ; of which being hindred , he fired his barn , and was afterward executed : one of these formerly in print . at a tavern in breadstreet in london , certain gentlemen drinking healths to their lords , on whom they had dependance ; one desperate wretch steps to the tables end , lays hold on a pottle-pot full of canary-sack , swears a deep oath ; what will none here drink a health to my noble lord and master ? and so setting the pottle-pot to his mouth , drinks it off to the bottom ; was not able to rise up , or to speak when he had done , but fell into a deep snoaring sleep , and being removed , laid aside , and covered by one of the servants of the house , attending the time of the drinking , was within the space of two hours irrecoverably dead : witnessed at the time of the printing hereof by the same servant that stood by him in the act , and helpt to remove him . in dengy hundred , near mauldon , about the beginning of his majesties reign , there fell out an extraordinary judgment upon five or six that plotted a solemn drinking at one of their houses , laid in beer for the once , drunk healths in a strange manner , and died thereof within a few weeks , some sooner , and some later : witnessed to me by one that was with one of them on his death-bed , to demand a debt , and often spoken of by master heydon , late preacher of mauldon , in the hearing of many : the particular circumstances were exceeding remarkable , but having not sufficient proof for the particulars , i will not report them . one of aylesham in norfolk , a notorious drunkard , drowned in a shallow brook of water , with his horse by him . whilest this was at the presse , a man eighty five years old , or thereabout , in suffolk , overtaken with wine , ( though never in all his life before , as he himself said a little before his fall , seeming to bewail his present condition , and others that knew him so say of him ) yet going down a pair of stairs ( against the perswasion of a woman sitting by him in his chamber ) fell , and was so dangerously hurt , as he died soon after , not being able to speak from the time of his fall to his death . the names of the parties thus punished , i forbear for the kindreds sake yet living . if conscionable ministers of all places of the land would give notice of such judgments , as come within the compass of their certain knowledge , it might be a great means to suppress this sin , which reigns every where to the scandal of our nation , and high displeasure of almighty god. these may suffice for a tast of god's judgments : easie were it to abound in sundry particular casualties , and fearful examples of this nature . drunkard , that which hath befaln any one of these , may befal thee , if thou wilt dally with this cockatrice ; what ever leagues thou makest with death , and dispensations thou givest thy self from the like . some of these were young , some were rich , some thought themselves as wise thou ; none of them ever looked for such ignominious ends , more then thou , who ever thou art : if thou hatest such ends , god give thee grace to decline such courses . if thou beeft yet insensate with wine , void of wit and fear , i know not what further to mind thee of , but of that third , and worst sting of all the rest , which will ever be gnawing , and never dying : which if thou wilt not fear here ; sure thou art to feel there , when the red dragon hath gotten thee into his den , and shalt fill thy soul with the gall of scorpions , where thou shalt yell and howl for a drop of water to cool thy tongue withall , and shalt be denied so small a refreshing , and have no other liquor to allay thy thirst , but that which the lake of brimstone shall afford thee . and that worthily , for that thou wouldest incur the wrath of the lamb for so base and sordid a sin as drunkenness , of which thou mayest think as venially and slightly as thou wilt . but paul that knew the danger of it , gives thee fair warning , and bids thee not deceive thy self , expresly and by name mentioning it among the mortal sins , excluding from the kingdom of heaven . and the prophet esay tells thee , that for it hell hath enlarged it self , opened its mouth wide , and without measure ; and therefore shall the multitude and their pomp , and the jollyest among them descend into it . consider this , you that are strong to pour in drink , that love to drink sorrow and care away : and be you well assured , that there you shall drink enough for all , having for every drop of your former bousings , vials , yea , whole seas of god's wrath , never to be exhaust . now then i appeal from your selves in drink , to your selves in your sober fits . reason a little the case , and tell me calmly , would you for your own , or any mans pleasure , to gratifie friend or companion , if you knew there had been a toad in the wine-pot ( as twice i have known happened to the death of drinkers ) or did you think that some caesar borgia , or brasutus had tempered the cup ; or did you see but a spider in the glass , would you , or durst you carouse it off ? and are you so simple to fear the poyson that can kill the body , and not that which killeth the soul and body ever ; yea , for ever and ever , and if it were possible for more then for ever , for evermore ? oh thou vain fellow , what tellest thou me of friendship , or good fellowship , wilt thou account him thy friend , or good fellow , that draws thee into his company , that he may poyson thee ? and never thinks he hath given thee right entertainment , or shewed thee kindness enough , till he hath killed thy soul with his kindness , and with beer made thy body a carkass fit for the biere , a laughing and loathing-stock , not to boys and girls alone , but to men and angels . why rather sayest thou not to such , what have i to do with you , ye sons of belial , ye poysonful generation of vipers , that hunt for the precious life of a man ? oh but there are few good wits , or great spirits now a-days , but will pot it a little for company . what hear i ? oh base and low-spirited times , if that were true ! if we were faln into such lees of time foretold of by seneca , in which all were so drowned in the dregs of vices , that it should be vertue and honour to bear most drink . but thanks be to god , who hath reserved many thousands of men , and without all comparison more witty and valorous then such pot-wits , and spirits of the buttery , who never bared their knees to drink health , nor ever needed to whet their wits with wine ; or arm their courage with pot-harness . and if it were so , yet if no such wits or spirits shall ever enter into heaven without repentance , let my spirit never come and enter into their paradise ; ever abhor to partake of their bruitish pleasures , lest i partake of their endless woes . if young cyrus could refuse to drink wine , and tell aftyages , he thought it to be poyson ; for he saw it metamorphose men into beasts and carcases : what would he have said , if he had known that which we may know , that the wine of drunkards is the wine of sodom and gomorrah ; their grapes , the grapes of gall ; their clusters , the clusters of bitterness , the juyce of dragons , and the venome of asps . in which words , moses is a full commentary upon solomon , largely expressing that he speaks here more briefly , it stings like the serpent , and bites like the cockatrice : to the which i may not unfitly add that of pauls , and think i ought to write of such with more passion and compassion , then he did of the christians in his time , which sure were not such monsters as ours in the shapes of christians , whose god is their belly , ( whom they serve with drink-offerings ) whose glory is their shame , and whose end is damnation . what then , take we pleasure in thundering out hell against drunkards ? is there nothing but death and damnation to drunkards ? nothing else to them , so continuing , so dying . but what is there no help nor hope , no amulet , antidote or triacle , are there no presidents found of recovery ? ambrose , i temember , tells of one , that having been a spectacle of drunkenness , proved after his conversion a pattern of sobriety . and i my self must confess , that one have i known yet living , who having drunk out his bodily eyes , had his spiritual eyes opened , proved diligent in hearing and practising . though the pit be deep , miry and narrow , like that dungeon into which jeremy was put ; yet if it please god to let down the cords of his divine mercy , and cause the party to lay hold thereon , it is possible they may escape the snares of death . there is even for the most debauched drunkard that ever was , a soveraign medicine , a rich triacle , of force enough to cure and recover his disease , to obtain his pardon , and to furnish him with strength to overcome this deadly poyson , fatal to the most : and though we may well say of it , as men out of experience do of quartane agues , that it is the disgrace of all moral physick , of all reproofs , counsels and admonitions ; yet is there a salve for this sore ; there came one from heaven that trode the winepress of his fathers fierceness , drunk of a cup tempered with the bitterness of god's wrath , and the devils malice , that he might heal even such as have drunk deepest of the sweet cup of sin. and let all such know , that in all the former discovery of this poyson , i have only aimed to cause them feel their sting , and that they might with earnest eyes behold the brasen serpent , and seriously repair to him for mercy and grace , who is perfectly able to eject even this kind , which so rarely and hardly is thrown out where once he gets possession . this seed of the woman is able to bruise this serpents head . oh that they would listen to the gracious offers of christ ! if once there be wrought in thy soul a spiritual thirst after mercy , as the thirsty land hath after rain , a longing appetite after the water that comes out of the rock , after the blood that was shed for thee ; then let him that is athirst come , let him drink of the water of life without any money ; of which if thou hast took but one true and thorow draught , thou wilt never long after thy old puddle waters of sin any more . easie will it be for thee after thou hast tasted of the bread and wine in thy father's house , ever to loath the husks and swill thou wert wont to follow after with greediness . the lord christ will bring thee into his mothers house , cause thee to drink of his spiced wine , of the new wine of the pomegranate : yea , he will bring thee into his cellar , spread his banner of love over thee , stay thee with flagons , fill thee with his love , till thou beest sick and overcome with the sweetness of his consolations . in other drink there is excess , but here can be no danger . the devil hath his invitation , come , let us drink ; and christ hath his inebriamini , beye filled with the spirit . here is a fountain set open , and proclamation made . and if it were possible for the bruitishest drunkard in the world to know who it is that offereth , and what kind of water he offereth ; he would ask , and god would give it frankly without money ; he should drink liberally , be satisfied , and out of his belly should sally springs of the water of life , quenching and extinguishing all his inordinate longings ofter stoln water of sin and death . all this while , little hope have i to work upon many drunkards , especially by a sermon read ( of less life and force in god's ordinance , and in its own nature , then preached , ) my first drift is , to stir up the spirits of parents and masters , who in all places complain of this evil , robbing them of good servants , and dutiful children , by all care and industry to prevent it in their domestical education , by carrying a watchful and restraining hand over them . parents , if you love either soul or body , thrift or piety , look to keep them from this infection . lay all the bars of your authority , cautions , threats and charges for the avoyding of this epidemical pestilence . if any of them be bitten of this cockatrice , sleep not , rest not , till you have cured them of it ; if you love their health , husbandry , grace , their present or future lives . dead are they while they live , if they live in this sin. mothers , lay about you as bathsheba , with all entreaties , what my son , my son of my loves and delights , wine is not for you , &c. my next hope is , to arouse and awaken the vigilancy of all faithful pastors and teachers . i speak not to such stars as this dragon hath swept down from heaven with its tayl : for of such the prophets , the fathers of the primitive , yea , all ages complain of . i hate and abhor to mention this abomination : to alter the proverb , as drunk as a beggar , to a gentleman is odious ; but to a man of god , to an angel , how harsh and hellish a sound it is in a christians ears ? i speak therefore to sober watchmen , watch , and be sober , and labour to keep your charges sober and watchful , that they may be so found of him , that comes like a thief in the night . two means have you of great vertue for the quelling of this serpent , zealous preaching and praying against it . it 's an old received antidote , that mans spittle , especially fasting spittle , is mortal to serpents . saint donatus is famous in story for spitting upon a dragon , that kept an high-way , and devoured many passengers . this have i made good observation of , that where god hath raised up zealous preachers , in such towns this serpent hath no nestling , no stabling or denning . if this will not do , augustine enforceth another , which i conceive god's and man's laws allow us upon the reason he gives : if paul ( saith he ) forbid to eat with such our common bread , in our own private houses , how much more the lord's body in church-assemblies : if in our times , this were strictly observed , the serpent would soon languish and vanish . in the time of an epidemical disease , such as the sweating or neezing sickness , a wise physician would leave the study of all other diseases , to find out the cure of the present raging evil. if chrysostome were now alive , the bent of all his homilies , or at least one part of them , should be spent to cry drown drunkenness , as he did swearing in antioch : never desisting to reprove it , till ( if not the fear of god , yet ) his imporunity made them weary of the fin . such anakims and zanzummims , as the spiritual sword will not work upon , i turn them over to the secular arm , with a signification of the dangerous and contagious spreading of this poyson in the veins and bowels of the common-wealth . in the church and christ his name also , intreating them to carry a more vigilant eye over the dens and burrows of this cockatrice , superfluous , blind , and clandestiné ale-houses i mean , the very pest-houses of the nation ? which i could wish had all for their fign , a picture of some hideous serpent , or a pair of them , as the best hieroglyphick of the genius of the place , to warn passengers to shun and avoid the danger of them . who sees and knows not , that some one needless ale-house in a countrey-town , un does all the rest of the houses in it , eating up the thrift and fruit of their labours ; the ill manner of sundry places , being there to meet in some one night of the week , and spend what they they have gathered and spared all the days of the same before , to the prejudice of their poor wives and children at home ; and upon the lords day ( after evening prayers ) there to quench and drown all the good lessons they have heard that day at church . if this go on , what shall become of us in time ? if woe be to single drunkards , is not a national woe to be feared and expected of a nation over-run with drunkenness ? had we no other sin reigning but this ( which cannot reign alone ) will not god justly spue us out of his mouth for this alone ? we read of whole countreys wasted , dispeopled by serpents . pliny tells us of the amyclae , lycophron of salamis ; herodotus of the neuri , utterly depopulate and made unhabitable by them . verily , if these cockatrices multiply and get head amongst us a while longer , as they have of late begun , where snall the people have sober servants to till their lands , or children to hold and enjoy them . they speak of drayning fens ; but if this evil be not stopped , we shall all shortly be drowned with it . i wish the magistracy , gentry , and yeomanry , would take it to serious consideration , how to deal with this serpent , before he grow too strong and fierce for them . it is past the egge already , and much at that pass , of which augustine complains of in his time , that he scarce knew what remedy to advise , but thought it required the meeting of a general council . the best course i think of , is , if the great persons would first begin through reformation in their own families , banish the spirits of their butteries , abandon that foolish and vitious custom , as ambrose and basil calls it , of drinking healths , and making that a sacrifice to god for the health of others , which is rather a sacrifice to the devil , and a bane of their own . i remember well sigismund the emperor's grave answer , wherein there concurred excellent wisdom and wit ( seldom meeting in one saying ) which he gave before the council of constance , to such as proposed a reformation of the church to begin with the franciseans and minorites . you will never do any good ( saith he ) unless you begin with the majorites first . sure , till it be out of fashion and grace in gentlemens tables , butteries and cellars , hardly shall you perswade the countrey-man to lay it down , who , as in fashions , so in vices , will ever be the ape of the gentry . if this help not , i shall then conclude it to be such an evil as is only by soveraign power , and the king's hand curable . and verily next under the word of god , which is omnipotent , how potent and wonder-working is the word of a king ? when both meet as the sun , and some good star in a benigne conjunction ; what enemy shall stand before the sword of god and gideon ? what vice so predominant which these subdue not ? if the lion roar , what beast of the forest shall not tremble and hide their head ? have we not a noble experiment hereof yet fresh in our memory , and worthy never to die , in the timely and speedy suppression of that impudent abomination of womens mannish habit , threatning the confusion of sexes , and ruine of modesty ? the same royal hand , and care the church and common-wealth implores for the vanquishing of this poyson , no less pernicious , more spreading and prevailing . take us these little foxes was wont to be the suit of the church , for they gnabble our grapes , and hurt our tender branches : but now it is become more serious . take us these serpents , lest they destroy our vines , vine-dressers , vineyards and all : this hath ever been royal game . how famous in the story of diodorus siculus , is the royal munificence of ptolomy king of egypt for provision of nets , and maintenance of huntsmen , for the taking and destroying of serpents , noxious and noisome to his countrey . the like of philip in aristotle , and of attilius regulus in aulus gellius . the embleme mentioned at large by plutarch , engraven on hercules shield ; what is it but a symbol of the divine honor due to princes following their herculean labours , in subduing the like hidraes , too mighty for any inferior person to take in hand ? it is their honor to tread upon basilisks , and trample dragons under their feet , solomon thinks it not unworthy his pen to discourse their danger . a royal and eloquent oration is happily and worthily preserved in the large volume of ancient writings , with this title , oratio magnifici & pacifici edgari regis habita ad dunstanum archiep. episcopos , &c. the main scope whereof is , to excite the clergies care and devotion for the suppressing of this vice , for the common good . undertakers of difficult plots promise themselves speed and effect , if once they interest the king , and make him party . and what more generally beneficial can be devised or proposed then this , with more honour and less charge to be effected , if it shall please his majesty but to make trial of the strength of his temporal and spiritual arms ? for the effecting of it , if this help not , what have we else remaining , but wishes and prayers to cast out this kind withall . god help us . to him i commend the success of these labors , and the vanquishing of this cockatrice . tobacco battered , and the pipes shattered ( about their ears , that id'ly idolize so base and barbarous a weed : or , at least-wise over-love so loathsome vanity . ) collected out of the famous poems of joshua sylvester , gent. what-ever god created , first was good , and good for man , while man uprightly stood : but , falling angels causing man to fall , his foul contagion con-corrupted all his fellow-creatures for his sin accurst , and for his sake transformed from the first ; till god and man , man's leprie to re-cure , by death kill'd death , re-making all things pure . but to the pure , not to the still prophane , who spider-like turns blessing into bane ; usurping ( right-less , thank-less , need-less ) here , in wanton , wilful , wastful , lustful chear , earths plenteous crop , which god hath onely given unto his own ( heirs both of earth and heaven ) who only ( rightly ) may with praise and prayer , enjoy th' increase of earth , of sea , of air , fowl , fish and flesh , gems , mettals , cattel , plants , and namely ( that which now no angle wants ) indian tobacco , when due cause requires , not the dry dropsie of phantastick squires . none therefore deem that i am now to learn , ( however dim i many things discern ) reason and season to distinguish fit , th' use of a thing , from the abuse of it ; drinking , from drunking , saccharum cum sacco , and taking of , from taking all tobacco . yet out of high disdain and indignation of that stern tyrant's strangest usurpation , once demi-captive to his puffing pride , ( as millions are too-wilful foolifi'd ) needs must i band against the needless use of don tobacco , and his foul abuse ; which ( though in inde it be an herb indeed ) in europe is no better then a weed , which to their idols pagans sacrifice , and christians ( here ) do well-nigh idolize : which taking , heathens to the devils bow their bodies , christians even their souls do vow ; yet th' heathen have , with th' ill , some good withall , sith their con-native , 't is non-natural : but see the nature of abounding sin , which more abounding , punishment doth win ; for knowing servants wilful arrogance , then silly strangers savage ignorance , for what to them is meat , and med'cinable , is turn'd tous a plague intolerable . two smoky engins , in this latter age , ( satan's short circuit ; the more sharp his rage ) have been invented by too-wanton wit , or rather vented from th' infernal pit ; guns and tobacco-pipes , with fire and smoke , ( at least ) a third part of mankind to choke , ( which , happily , th' apocalyps fold-told ) yet of the two , we may ( think i ) be bold in some respect , to think the last the worst , ( however , both in their effects accurst , ) for guns shoot from-ward , only at their foen , tobacco-pipes home-ward , into their own , ( when for the touch-hole firing the wrong end into our selves the poysons force we send ; ) those in the field , in brave and hostile manner , these , cowardly , under a covert banner ; those with defiance , in a threatful terror , these with affiance , in a wilful error , those , ( though loud-roaring , goaring-deep ) quick-ridding ; these , stilly stealing , longer languors breeding , those , full of pain ( perhaps ) and fell despight , these with false pleasure , and a seem-delight , ( as cats with mice , spiders with flyes ) full rife , pipe-playing , dallying and deluding life . who would not wonder in these sunny-days , ( so bright illightned with the gofpel's rays ) whence so much smoke and deadly vapors come , to dim and dam so much of christendom ; but we must ponder too , these days are those , wherein the devil was to be let lose , and yawning broad-gate of that black abyss to be set ope , whose bottom boundless is , that satan , destin'd evermore to dwell in smoky fornace of that darksom cell , in smoke and darkness might inure and train his own deer minions , while they here remain ; as roguing gipsies tan their little elves , to make them tan'd and ugly like themselves . then in despight , who ever dare say nay , tobacconists keep on your course ; you may , if you continue in your smoky ure , the better far hells sulphury smoke endure ; and herein ( as in all your other evil ) grow nearer still , and liker to the devil , save that the devil ( if he could revoke ) would fly from filthy , and unhealthy smoke ; wherein ( cast out of heav'n for hellish-pride ) unwilling he , and forced , doth abide ; which herein worse than he ( the worst of ill ) you long for , lust for , lye for , die for , still ; for as the salamander lives in fire , you live in smoke , and without smoke expire . should it be question'd ( as right well it may ) whether discovery of america , that new-found world , have yielded to our old more hurt or good , till fuller answer should decide the doubt , and quite determine it , thus for the present might we answer fit ; that , thereby we have ( rightly understood ) both given and taken greater hurt then good : and that on both sides , both for christians , it had been better , and for indians , that only good men to their coast had come , or that the evil had still staid at home ; for , what our people have brought thence to us , is like the head-piece of a polypus , wherein is ( quoted by sage plutarch's quill ) a pest'lence great good , and great pest'lence ill . we had from them , first to augment our stocks , two grand diseases , scurvy and the pocks ; then two great cordials ( for a counterpoize ) gold and tobacco ; both which , many wayes , have done more mischief , then the former twain ; and all together-brought more loss then gain . but true it is , we had this trash of theirs , only in barter for our broken wares ; ours for the most part carried out but sin , and , for the most part , brought but vengeance in ; their fraight was sloth , lust , avarice and drink , ( a burden able with the weight to sink the hugest carrak ; yea , those hallowed twelve spain's great apostles-even to over-whelve ) they carried sloth , and brought home scurvy skin ; they carried lust , and brought home pox within : they carried avarice , and gold they got ; they carried bacchus , and tobacco brought : alas poor indians ! that , but english none , could put them down in their own trade alone ! that none but english ( more alas ! more strange ! ) could justifie their pittiful exchange . of all the plants that tellus bosom yields , in groves , glades , gardens , marshes , mountains , fields : none so pernicious to mans life is known , as is tobacco , saving hemp alone , betwixt which two there seems great sympathy , to ruinate poor adam's progeny ; for in them both a strangling vertue note , and both of them do work upon the throat ; the one , within it ; and without the other ; and th' one prepareth work unto the tother : for there do meet ( i mean at gaile and gallows ) more of these beastly , base tobacco-fellows , then else to any prophane haunt do use , ( excepting still the play-house and the stews ) sith 't is their common lot ( so double-choaked ) just bacon-like to be hang'd up and smoked ; a destiny as proper to befall to moral swine , as to swine natural . if there be any herb in any place , most opposite to god's good herb of grace , 't is doubtless this ; and this doth plainly prove it , that , for the most , most graceless men do love it ; or rather doat most on this wither'd weed , themselves as wither'd , in all gracious deed : 't is strange to see , ( and unto me a wonder ) when the prodigious strànge abuse we ponder of this unruly , rusty vegetal , from modern symmists jesu critical , ( carping at us , and casting in our dish not crimes , but crums , as eating flesh for fish ; ) w' hear in this case , no conscience-cases holier , but , like to like , the devil with the collier . for a tobacconist ( i dare aver ) is first of all a rank idolater as any of the ignatian hierachy ; next as conformed to their foppery of burning day-light , and good night at noon , setting up candles to enlight the sun ; and last the kingdom of new babylon , stands in a dark and smoky region , so full of such variety of smokes , that there-with-all , all piety it choaks . for there is first of all the smoke of ignorance , the smoke of error , smoke of arrogance , the smoke of merit super-er'gatory , the smoke of pardons , smoke of purgatory , the smoke of censing , smoke of thurifying of images , of satans fury flying , the smoke of stews ( from smoking thence they come , as horrid hot , as torrid sodom some ) then smoke of powder-treason , pistol knives , to blow up kingdoms , and blow out kings lives : and lastly too , tobacco's smoky mists , which ( coming from iberian baalists ) no small addition of adustion fit , bring to the smoke of the unbottom'd pit yerst opened , first ( as openeth st. john ) by their abaddon and apollyon . but sith they are contented to admire what they dislike not , if they not desire ; ( for , with good reason , may we ghess that they who swallow camels , swallow gnatlings may ; ) 't is ground enough for us in this dispute , their vanities thus obvious to refute ( their vanities , mysterious mists of rome , which have so long besmoked christendom . ) and for the rest , it shall suffice to say , tobacconing is but a smoky play ; strong arguments against so weak a thing , were needless , or unsuitable , to bring ; in this behalf there needs no more be done , sith of it self the same will vanish soon ; t' evaporate this smoke , it is enough , but with a breath the same aside to puffe . now , my first puff , shall but repel th' ill savour of place and persons ( of debaucht behaviour ) where 't is most frequent ; second , shew i will , how little good it doth ; third , how great ill : 't is vented most in taverns , tipling-cotts , to ruffians , roarers , tipsy-tosty-pots , whose custom is , between the pipe and pot , ( th' one cold and moist , th' other dry and hot ; ) to skirmish so ( like sword-and-dagger-fight , ) that 't is not easie to determine right , which of their weapons hath the conquest got over their wits , the pipe or else the pot ; yet 't is apparent , and by proof express , both stab and wound the brain with drunkenness ; for even the derivation of the name , seems to allude , and to include the same : tobacco , as τω βακχω , one would say , to bacchus ( cup-god ) dedicated ay . and for conclusion of this point , observe the places which to these abuses serve ; how-ever of themselves noysome enough , are much more loathsome with the stench and stuff , extracted from their limbeckt lips and nose , so that the houses , common haunts of those , are liker hell than heav'n , for hell hath smoke , impenitent tobacconists to choak ; though never dead , there shall they have their fill ; in heav'n is none , but light and glory still . next , multitudes them daily , hourly , drawn in this black sea of smoke , tost up and down in this vast ocean , of such latitude , that europe only cannot it include ; but out it rushes , over-runs the whole , and reaches well-nigh round , from pole to pole among the moors , turks , tartars , persians , and other ethnicks full of ignorance of god and good ; and , if we shall look home , to view ( and rew ) the state of christendom ; upon this point , we may this riddle bring ; the subject hath more subjects then the king : for don tocacco hath an ampler reign , than don philippo , the great king of spain , ( in whose dominions , for the most it grows , ) nay , shall i say ( o horror to suppose ! ) heathenish tobacco ( almost every where ) in christendom ( christ's outward kingdom here ) hath more disciples than christ hath , i fear , more suits , more service ( bodies , souls , and good ) than christ that bought us with his pretious bloud : o great tobacco , greater then great can , great turk , great tartar , or great tamerlan ! with vulturs wings thou hast ( and swifter yet then an hungarian ague , english sweat ) through all degrees flown , far , nigh , up and down , from court to cart , from count to country-clown ; not scorning scullions , coblers , colliers , jakes-farmers , fidlers , ostlers , oysterers , rogues , gipsies , players , pandars , punks , and all , what common scums in common-sewers fall ; for all as vassals at thy beck are bent , and breath by thee , as their new element : which well may prove thy monarchy the greater , yet prove not thee to be a whit the better ; but rather worse , for hells wide-open road is easiest found , and by the most still trod , which , even the heathen had the light to know , by arguments , as many times they show . here may we also gather ( for a need ) whether tobacco be a herb or weed ; and whether the excessive use be fit , or good or bad , by those that favour it ; weeds , wild and wicked , mostly entertain it ; herbs , wholsome herbs , and holy minds disdain it . if then tobacconing be good , how is 't , that lewdest , loosest , basest , foolishest ; the most unthrifty , most intemperate , most vitious , most debaucht , most desperate , pursue it most : the wisest , and the best , abhor it , shun it , flee it as the pest , or piercing poyson of a dracons whisk , or deadly eye-shot of a basilisk if wisdom baulk it , must it not be folly ? if vertue hate it , is it not unholy ? if men of worth , and minds right generous , discard it , scorn it , is 't not scandalous ? and ( to conclude ) is it not , to the devil , most pleasing , pleasing so ( most ) the most evil ? my second puff , is proof , how little good this smoke hath done ( that ever hear i cou'd : ) for first , there 's none that takes tobacco most , most usually , most earnestly , can boast , that the excessive and continual use of this dry-suck-at ever did produce him any good , civil or natural , or moral good , or artificial ; unless perhaps , they will alledge , it draws away the ill , which still it self doth cause ; which course ( me-thinks ) i cannot liken better , then to a userers kindness to his debter ; who under shew of lending , still subtracts the debters own , and then his own exacts , till , at the last , he utterly confound him , or leave him worse , and weaker then he found him . next , if the custom of tobacconing yield th' users any good in any thing , either they have it , or they hope it prest , ( by proof and practice , taking still the best : ) for , none but fools will them to ought beslave , whence benefit they neither hope nor have . therefore yet farther ( as a questionist ) i must enquire of my tobacconist , why if a christian ( as some sometimes seem ) believing god , waiting all good from him ; and unto him all good again referring , why ( to eschew th' ungodly's graceless erring ) why pray they not not ? why praise they not his name for hoped good , and good had by this same ? as all men do , or ought to do for all , the gifts and goods that from his goodness fall ; is 't not , because they neither hope nor have , good ( hence ) to thank god for , nor farther crave : but as they had it from the heathen first , so heathenishly they use it still accurst ; and ( as some jest of jisters ) this is more , ungodly meat , both after and before . lastly , if all delights of all mankind be vanity , vexation of the mind , all under sun , must not tobacco bee , of vanities , the vainest vanity ? if solomon , the wisest earthly prince that ever was before , or hath been since ; knowing all plants , and then perusing all , from cedar to the hysop on the — wall ; in none of all professeth , that — he sound a firm content , or consolation found : can we suppose , that any shallowing , can find much good in oft tobacconing ? my third and last puff points at the great evil , this noysome vapor works ( through wily devil ) if we may judge ; if knowledge may be had , by their effects , how things be good or bad : doubtless , th' effects of this pernitious weed be many bad , scarce any good indeed ; nor doth a man scarce any good contain , but of this evil justly may complain ; as thereby made in every part the worse , in body , soul , in credit , and in purse . a broad-side against coffee : or , the marriage of the turk . coffee , a kind of turkish renegade , has late a match with christian water made ; at first between them happen'd a demur , yet joyn'd they were , but not without great stir ; for both so cold were , and so faintly meet , the turkish hymen in his turbant swet . coffee was cold as earth , water as thames , and stood in need of recommending flames ; for each of them steers a contrary course , and of themselves they sue out a divorce . coffee so brown as berry does appear , too swarthy for a nymph so fair , so clear : and yet his sails he did for england hoist , though cold and dry , to court the cold and moist ; if there be ought we can , as love admit ; 't is a hot love , and lasteth but a fit . for this indeed the cause is of their stay , new castle's bowels warmer are than they . the melting nymph distills her self to do 't , whilst the slave coffee must be beaten to 't : incorporate him close as close may be , pause but a while , and he is none of he ; which for a truth , and not a story tells , no faith is to be kept with infidels . sure he suspects , and shuns her as a whore , and loves , and kills , like the venetian moor ; bold asian brat ! with speed our consines flee ; water , though common , is too good for thee . sure coffee's vext he has the breeches lost , for she 's above , and he lies undermost ; what shall i add but this ? ( and sure 't is right ) the groom is heavy , ' cause the bride is light . this canting coffe has his crew inricht , and both the water and the men bewitcht . a coachman was the first ( here ) coffee made , and ever since the rest drive on the trade ; me no good engalash ! and sure enough , he plaid the quack to salve his stygian stuff ; ver boon for de stomach , de cough , de ptisick , and i believe him , for it looks like physick . coffee a crust is charkt into a coal , the smell and taste of the mock china bowl ; where huff and puff , they labor out their lungs , lest dives-like they should bewail their tongues . and yet they tell ye that it will not burn , though on the jury blisters you return : whose furious heat does make the water rise , and still through the alembicks of your eyes , dread and desire , ye fall to 't snap by snap , as hungry dogs do scalding porrige lap . but to cure drunkards it has got great fame ; posset or porrige , will 't not do the same ? confusion huddles all into one scene , like noah's ark , the clean and the unclean . but now , alas ! the drench has credit got , and he 's no gentleman that drinks it not ; that such a dwarf should rise to such a stature ! but custom is but a remove from nature . a little dish , and a large coffee-house , what is it , but a mountain and a mouse ? mens humana novitatis avidissima . i have heard it is good for one thing ( and that falls out too often ) when men are so drunk with wine , beer or ale , or brandy , that they are unfit to manage their imployment ; then a dish of hot coffee is a present remedy to settle their heads . no doubt , but a dish of broth , or beer , will work the same cure , if it be drank as hot . this short collection should more properly have taken place next to what was collected out of the other doctors , but it came not to my sight , till it was too late : and because it agrees with what is mentioned in the first epistle , that it is a strange way of taking tobacco , as physick , just before , and presently after meals ; i thought fit to put it in here . and if any are so wise as to be convinced by what hath been written , that immoderate smoking of tobacco is hurtful for them , they were best to leave it gradnally ; for that is most safe , for such as have been accustomed long to it ; or else it is good to chew the leafe in the mouth ; or as some do , smoke a pipe with other ingredients , as rosemary , bitony , or mints : this collection was taken out of that book of dr. everard's , entituled , the vertue of tobacco . young men especially must take great care how they suck in this smoke , for the custome and too much use of it , brings their brains out of order , and makes them to be over-hot , so that they lose their good temper , and are beyond the bounds of their health , and that sacred anchor is lost irrecoverably . for the nourishment of young men requires a gentle moisture , to strengthen them , and to make their bodies grow to their just perfection . especially for those that are cholerick , whose brains cannot endure excess of heat , for the native heat would be oppressed by the accidental heat . see gallen his comment , in lib. de vict . salub . also this smoke doth vehemently move the stomach to nauseat , and to vomit , ( as daily experience teacheth us ) namely , by cleaving to the inward parts , and so offending the peculiar juyces contain'd in the stomach , and the mesentary ; it destroys their ordinary operations . for in thrusting forth the matter from the stomach it cannot be , but also something must be cast out , wherein the force of nature resides ; and also , because when nature is doing her office , she sends the nourishment into the habit of the body , as to the circumference , but all disturbing and purgative things draw the juyces & spirits to the center . wherefore nature is wonderfully tired with these contrary motions , for she can endure nothing less then two contrary motions at the same time . wherefore it is a most bitter enemy to the stomachs of very many men , especially if they use to take it presently after supper or dinner . and in this respect it is mischievous to the bodies of all sound men , according to hippocrates his rule . 2. aphoris . 37. it is troublesome to purge those that are in good health . for frequent use of purging medicaments will soon make a man old ; for the sorces are broken by the resolving of the solid parts , by an hypercatharsis of all nutrimental juyce . by these things mentioned , it is easie to collect , that the smoke of tobacco shortneth mens days . for being that our native heat is like to a flame , which continually feeds upon natural moisture , as a lamp lighted , drinks up the oyl by its heat ; it follows necessarily , that for want of food , life must needs fly away quickly , when the proper subject of life is dissipated and consumed : for with that moisture , the imbred heat fails also , and death succeeds . you understand therefore ( that are tobacconists ) that the sooty fumes of tobacco , wherein you are wallowing ( as it were ) in the deepest mire , are of great force to shorten your days . galen speaking of opening medicaments , asserts , that by the frequent use of them , the solid parts of the body are dried , and that the blood grows gross and clotted , which being burned in the reins , breed the stone . the same thing may be truly maintained concerning tobacco , which many use too frequently , and more then any do use those kind of opening medicaments ; for this is more hot and dry then they are , and therefore is more forcible to hurt sound and well-tempered bodies . take warning therefore you that love tobacco , that you do not exceed in using too much of it , and enslave your selves to this fuliginous smoke , by hunting after it , and making a god of it . the goods of the body , are beauty , strength , and sound health . the most grave author plutarch , commending the last as the best of all , affirmed most gravely and learnedly , that health is the most divine , and the most excellent property of the body , and a most precious thing . there is nothing in this world better ; nothing more to be desired , and nothing can be found to be more pleasant . without this ( as hippocrates faith ) there is no pleasure or fruit of any other things . this is it , which in this life fills all perfection : without this no man could ever be said to be happy : this far exceeds the greatest honours , treasures , and riches . tobacconist's arms in a turkish coffee house a postscript by way of apology . honest reader , this intended porch being so impolished , and so rude a draught , i have judged it more fit to make a back-door , then a fore : neither durst i presume to set it in the forefront , for i count it but as an over-plus sheet ; however it may serve for wast paper to wrap up the learned collections , or else to light a pipe of tobacco , and will make as good smoke : it lies at thy mercy , to use or to abuse as thou pleasest . for my part , i pretend to no great learning , yet am a lover of it , and a well-wisher to it : neither am i worthy to carry the books after these learned authors , out of whose works i have made this collection ; therefore i make this humble apologetical postscript . i know for my labour of reviving this noble counterblast , &c. i can expect no better , but to be counterblasted by the black and foul mouths of many tobacconists , and common tobacco-smokers ; for endeavoring to pull down their great diana , which they labour demetrius like to cry up , because of the much gain it brings them . if i meet with reproaches and scorns , it is no more then i expected from them , and i value it not : neither is it any news or wonder ; for we live in the last dayes , and as the apostle peter fore-told many hundred years since , in 2 pet. 3.3 . that in the last dayes should come scoffers , walking after their own lusts . to such king solomon propounds a , question , which they can hardly be able to answer , in prov. 22. how long ye simple ones will ye love sumplicity ? and ye scorners delight in scorning , and fools hate knowledge ? there have been many such in all age , of the world , as it may easily be instanced . before i conclude , i thought it not amiss , or improper , to say something briefly against excessive drinking of healths , and drunkenness , which calls to remembrance , amongst other , of his majesties noble and gracious acts , since his restuaration , wherein he hath had merciful respect to the lives , estates , souls and bodies of his good subjects , and therein gone beyond his predecessors . i shall but name to his perpetual honour these three , viz. in the first place , his act of oblivion , passing by all that was done against him or his father , excepting only those that were his royal fathers judges . in the next place , he was pleased to publish a proclamation to all his loving subjects , against that sinful custom of drinking his health , his majesty wisely considering how apt many would be to fall into that evil extreme , doth in that proclamation , rebuke such as can express their love him in no better way , then drinking his health . in the next place , i cannot but take notice , and mention , to his majesties renown , his late gracious declaration , for liberty and indulgence to tender consciences , that could not in all things conform to the ceremonies and discipline of the church of england , by law established : this by the way . but now to speak a little more against drinking healths , which is to our purpose in hand . there was many years since a book published , by mr. william prynne , against drinking of healths , entituled , healths sickness , but not now to be had , or seldom thought of ; he shews the greatness of that sin , and the dangerous consequence of it both to the souls and bodies of men. there is another large treatise published by mr. robert younge , entituled , the drunkard's character : also a sermon preached long since by doctor robert harris , called the drunkard's cup , out of isaiah 5. from the 11. to the 18. verse . and a sermon published many years since , preached at pauls cross , by doctor abraham gibson , entituled , the lands mourning for vain swearing ; out of these words , because of oaths the land mourns . and now the land may mourn , not only for vain swearing , but for vain drinking of healths and drunkenness . after his majesties restauration , there was , i remember , a great feast , at which time there was a health drank for his majesty , and when it came to the turn of an able learned grave minister there present , he utterly disliked and refused it : answering , that he would pray for his majesties heath . and if all that are well-wishers to his majesties health , would obey his proclamation against that vice , in leaving off drinking , either of the kings health , or any others , & leave of swearing and prophaning the sabbath ; and would constantly , earnestly , and heartily pray for his majesties health , according as the apostle st. paul exhorts timothy , 1 tim. 2.3 . that supplication and prayer be made for kings , and all that are in authority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty . i say , then we should be in hopes to see better times , and better trading : the generality cry out of their want of trading , and of the sins of the rulers ; but our chief work and duty is to look more narrowly at home , and to find out the plague of our own hearts . who smites upon his thigh ? who saith , what have i done ? we are apt to forget the late dreadful judgments of god ; as that of the destroying-sword , the sad destroying pestilence , when from the 20th of december , 1664 , to the 15th of december , 1665. there died of all diseases 97396 , and of the plague 68596 ; and in one week , which i find to be the greatest of all , was in september 19. 1665 , there died of the plague in london and liberties 7165 , of all diseases 8297 that one week . can london ever forget those sad and lamentable consuming flames , that brake forth the second of september , 1666 ? the ruinous heaps on 373 acres within , and 63 acres without the old line , the ghastly walls of 89 parish-churches , and stately houses and halls , with the royal exchange , and as it was computed thirteen thousand and two hundred houses , with a vast deal of goods , houshold-stuff , and rich commodities ; and , i think , book-sellers may easily remember the many ware-houses of good books of all sorts , then turned to ashes , at st. faiths church , and in other places about the city . there was a book published by mr. thomas brooks , dedicated to sir william turner lord mayor ( who deserved much love and honour , for being so great a furtherer of building the city and royal exchange , that lay long in ruins ) entituled , london's lamentations , being a serious discourse of the late fiery dispensation , that turned our renowned city into a ruinous heap . in the second part , or application of that book , page 36. is shewed , that the burning of london was a national judgment , and that god in smiting london , did smite england round : and what sins bring desolating judgments upon persons and places ? intemperance and drunkenness is one sin , and that we are to see the hand of the lord in that dreadful fire , and to take heed of those sins that bring the fiery rod , with the several lessons and duties we are to learn by it . we may easily see that the lord will not suffer us to be forgetful of his great judgments , by the several fresh remembrances he hath given us , by sad fires in divers places since , in and near the city . not long after the dreadful fire , there was a merchants great house , almost finished , in mincing lane , burned and quite defaced ; after that , two great fires brake forth in southwark at several times and places : another at the savoy , which did much harm ; another at the corner of st. bartholomew lane , a herald painter's house , mr. francis nowers himself , his child and nurse was burned . another in white-chappel , and several persons burned there . another sad fire was in or near thames street , which burned to the ground a great sugar-baker's house , with many thousand pounds worth of sugar , belonging to several partners ; it began september the second , the lords-day , 1671. and now last whit-sunday morning , at st. katherines near tower-hill , brake forth a very grievous lamentable fire , which , as it is reported , consumed above one hundred dwelling-houses , and divers ships , and some people were burned and killed by it . after that , another great fire that consumed about a dozen houses , and part of sir paul pindar's house , without bishopsgate , in june , 1672. a few dayys after brake forth another fire , which burned several houses in crutched friers . one at camomile-street : at the swan at holborn-bridge : a brick house in grub-street . we may do well to take that counsel of our saviour to the impotent man that he had cured , and had been at the pool of bothsaida , who had an infirmity thirty eight years , john 5.14 . christ bid him go and sin no more , least a worse thing befal him ; it was old mr. wheatlyes text of banbury , after it was burned : read the 26. of leviticus , how greatly the lord threatned the people of israel , if they were disobedient to him ; he threatens great judgments , and to make their cities wast , and the land desolate ; and in the verses 18 , 21 , 24 , 28. it is four times threatned , that he will punish them seven times more for their iniquities . god hath shot three arrows against us , and how easily can he shoot a fourth sore arrow , that of the famine , unless we turn from our sins by true repentance . it is to be feared , that after all that hath or can be said to reclaim men from their evil courses , and excesses in drinking , that they will be swayed by custome , which is a second nature ; and it will be found as difficult for them to be temperate in smoking , and drinking , and feasting , as it is for the blackmore to change his skin , or the leopard his spots . so that they will rather say , as he that being advised by his physician to leave of his evil courses , or else he would loose his sight , answered , tum valeat lumen amicum , then farewel sweet light. to such it may be said , as solomon saith , rejoyce o young man in thy youth , walk in the sight of thine eyes , and let thy heart chear thee ; but remember that for all these things god will bring thee to judgment . we all know , that sin is the fore-runner of all plagues and calamities , that ever came upon any people or nation under heaven ; it is the plague of plagues : what provoked god to drown the old world , but sin ? what caused god to rain down fire and brimstone on sodom and gomorrah , but their sins of pride , idleness , and fulness of bread ? and whilst abraham interceded for sodom , had there been but ten righteous persons found amongst them , god would have spared them for their sakes . thus i have spoken against sin in general , as that which draws down judgments upon our heads : i will only lay a few scriptures before you , touching the lord's anger against sin , which he cannot indure to behold without great indignation : for it is only sin that makes a separation between god and our souls ; and i desire the reader to turn to them at his leisure , and to make the best use and application of them , hosea 4.1 , 2 , 3. isaiah 22.12 , 13 , 14. isaiah 24.7 , 8 , 9. genesis 12.10 . chap 26.1.42.5.43.1 . chap. 41.30.36.50.56 . 57. prov. 15.26.29 . that sea-man that being ingaged in a ship , and sees it in danger to sink or to be cast away ; is but an ill and unworthy sea-man that will not put to his helping hand to save her . and are not all english-men engaged in the ship of the kingdom , or common-wealth of england ? and is it not in a storm , compassed with enemies without , and within molested and assaulted with the most dangerous enemies of all ; over-laden with our grand enemies , sins of all sorts ? is it not the part of an honest true english-man to help to save this ship , by lightening its burden , and casting these bad commodities over-board ? i mean its sins , that by so doing , we may engage god , the lord of hosts on our side , and then , si deus nobiscum cuis contranos : did but england's sins weigh lighter then her enemies sins , then we were more likely to be victorious and conquerors over all our forreign enemies . doth not england match any of her enemies in sins and provocations , namely drunkenness ? doth it come behind the dutch , dane , or swede , which are counted the highest drinkers in the world , of the highest form , and so for swearing most horrible oaths , and scoffing at religion and piety . within ten days since i began this collection or postscript i was an eye and ear-witness , that a swaggering blade rapt out this oath , god damn me , about a trifle in a scoffing frolick , saying , he had got a presbyterian band on he thought . another man on whitson-eve i saw so sadly drunk , he could neither go nor stand , but sate down on a door-stone , i asked him , where he had been ? he would give no other answer but this , that he was troubled with the megromes . so i and others about him left him , and know not what became of him : these two were in the heart of the city , near the exchange . after i had seen king james his counterblast against tobacco , and taken a liking to it : i did at the first intend only to get that printed alone , but afterwards meeting with these pertinent , sutable , and profitable directions , for the preservation of long , life , both against tobacco , and intemperate drinking ; published in the works of that learned physician doctor maynwaring , now living : i thought it not amiss to joyn them together , and likewise to add a good old sermon at the latter end , preached , in or near the time of king james , by a famous learned divine , mr. samuel ward then preacher of ipswich , printed 1627. it is but brief , and the best i know of in print against the sin of drunkenness and health-drinking , wherein are discovered divers sad examples of many that have been notorious drinkers or drunkards , called woe to drunkards , that have kill'd themselves by drinking immoderately . in the last place i shall but commend to the reader a few good useful books , viz. mr thomas brook's londons lamentations , also his book called precious remedies against satan's devices , and his twenty two sermons on ephes . 3.8 . of the unsearchable riches of christ , his cabinet of jewels , his closet prayer , and a profitable and very delightsome book of good counsel for all young persons , called his apples of gold for young men and women &c. mr. thomas watson's new treatise , entituled , the mischief of sin , it brings a person low , on psal . 106.43 . mr. ralph venning's book , called sin the plague of plagues , or sinful sin the worst of evils , on rom. 7.13 . these books do set forth sin in its own proper colours ; it is compared in scripture to filthy rags , and to a menstruous cloth ; and i think it cannot be called by so bad a name as it is . also lately published mr. robert perrot's new book called englands sole , and soveraign way of being saved . mr. calamie's godly mans ark , which i think is a useful and seasonable book these stormy times : now we are pursued by enemies on all sides , outward and inward , it 's good to get into an ark , or city of refuge : these are sold at the three bibles in popes head alley , where the best and newest short-hand books , and books of divinity are to be had : also history , husbandry astronomy , mathematicks , arithmetick , law , sea , physick , the best poetry , school books , &c. five books of the learned doctor maynwarings . 1. his preservation of health , and prolongation of life . 2. his treatise of the sourvy , shewing , that tobacco is a procuring cause . 3. the rise and progress of physick historically , chromologically and philosophically illustrated , shewing , the abuse of medicines &c. 4. his treatise of consumptions , demonstrating their nature and cure. 5. the ancient and modern practice of physick examined , stated and compared . the true elixir proprietatis of van helmont , paracelsus & crollius , with a book of its use and vertue , highly commended by mr. lilly. as for other books of vain idle romances , lascivious and vitious poetry and drollery , which are worse then the smoke of tobacco , and more fit for the fire to make smoke of , then for the study ; i wish the lovers of them to take notice of this one passage about such , in mr. philip goodwin's mystery of drunkenness , printed for francis tyton ; it is in page 50. satan sends out his books as baits , by which many are cunningly caught , with the venome of which so many are poysoned . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a87472-e790 aphorism . tutela sanitatis . amurath his counter blast to tobacco . ' primum crater ad sitim pertinere , secundum ad hilaritatem , tertium ad voluptatem , quartum ad insaniam dixit apuleius . omne nimiun naturae est inimicum . a cacotrophy , or atrophy . quicquid recipitur , recipitur per modum recipientis . ax. notes for div a87472-e5740 esay 2. esay 5.11 , 22. esay 28.1 . joel 1.5 . hab 2. james 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . basil . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a charito & tanquam chena hash , veche siphgnoni iaphresh ; novissimo tanquam serpens mordebis , regulas punget montinur & mercerus ; tanquam haemorihois vel dissas , tremelius . 1 cor. 6.10 . esay 5.14 . deut. 32.32 . gods judgements upon drunkards, swearers, and sabbath-breakers. in a collection of the most remarkable examples of gods revealed wrath upon these sins with their aggravations, as well from scripture, as reason. and a caution to authority, lest the impunity of these evils bring a scourge upon the whole nation. by w. l. hammond, samuel, d. 1665. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a87056 of text r230554 in the english short title catalog (wing h623ba). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 187 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 102 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a87056 wing h623ba estc r230554 99896409 99896409 154184 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a87056) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 154184) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2403:14) gods judgements upon drunkards, swearers, and sabbath-breakers. in a collection of the most remarkable examples of gods revealed wrath upon these sins with their aggravations, as well from scripture, as reason. and a caution to authority, lest the impunity of these evils bring a scourge upon the whole nation. by w. l. hammond, samuel, d. 1665. [64], 128 p. printed for william london, [london] : 1659. title page and leaves a2, a6, b3.6, c3-8, f2, and f3 are cancels. divisional titlepages: of blaspheming the name of god, by cursed oathes. with the judgements of god upon cursers & swearers (g1r); of the sabbath day, with gods judgements upon the profaners thereof (i1r). in fact, by samuel hammond--wing (cd-rom edition). reproduction of original in the folger shakespeare library. eng alcoholism -england -early works to 1800. swearing -early works to 1800. sunday -early works to 1800. god -wrath -early works to 1800. a87056 r230554 (wing h623ba). civilwar no gods judgements upon drunkards, swearers, and sabbath-breakers. in a collection of the most remarkable examples of gods revealed wrath upon hammond, samuel 1659 34444 255 20 0 0 0 0 80 d the rate of 80 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2008-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-09 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-09 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion written by wm london a bookseller in newcastle upon tyne . local cases . houghton le spring p 42 carlisle pp 44 , 45 , 77 stanhopep 76 dalston &c. p 44 , 78 cockermouth p 44 callerton p 85 gods judgements upon drunkards , swearers , and sabbath-breakers . in a collection of the most remarkable examples of gods revealed wrath upon these sins : with their aggravations , as well from scripture , as reason . and a caution to authority , lest the impunity of these evils bring a scourge upon the whole nation . by w. l. 1 cor. 10.11 . now all these things happened unto them for examples , and they are written for our admonition , upon whom the ends of the world are come . luke 13.3 . jesus said , suppose ye that these galileans were sinners above all galileans , because they suffered such things ? i tell you , nay , &c. printed for william london , 1659. to the right worshipfull , the mayor , recorder , aldermen , sheriffe , and common-councell ; together with the most ingenuous inhabitants of the famous and flourishing town of new-castle upon tine : the authour in testimony of his sincere desires for the peace and prosperity of the town in general , and every person in particular , dedicates this his labour to their kind acceptance . christian reader , when i consider how the great moderator of the world , the holy and just god is concerned in the regular or irregular conversations of men , and how much he hath interested himself in the providential notice he hath taken of them , i cannot but judge that the brandishing of his sword , the recording of the signal judgments of god ; may be both acceptable to the lord , and useful to many an habituated rebellious sinner , for the allaruming his drowsie conscience . shall a trumpet be blowne in the city , and the people not be afraid ? the lord is known by his judgment which he executeth . god will not suffer the worst part of the world to sink into atheisme : the wretched emperour shall have claps of thunder to fright him into suspitions of a deity . julian the apostate shall be made to throw his blood into the ayre with a {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . judgments have been one of the usuall wayes of gods asserting his authority in the world : and that the usefulnesse of the following treatise may be the more discovered , i have a few things to intimate about the number of the judgements of god . 1. that gods judgments are not not like arrows shot into the aire at randome , he does not {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , god hath blessed ends , either to reclaim the party smitten , i● judgements short of death seize on them , or to be ● pillar of salt to others , that they may hear , fear , and do n● more so : those jews that exemplarily fell in the wildernesse ; they are said 1 cor. 10.6 . to be {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , types to future generations ; they are engraven characters of divine vengeance , that we should read their punishment , and avoid their sin . 2. consider the principles that judgements have to work upon . bondage , fear , and self-love ; the one like the spaniel , forbearing to offend for the cudgel over it , the other from a principle of self-preservation , had rather want the bait , then swallow the hook ; god having left some reliques of these in the most debaucht consciences , that he might have somewhat to treat with in the vilest sinners , when his judgements were abroad . 3. weigh the convictions they leave of an over-ruling deity ; atheism is one of the natural fruits of the first apostasy , and as it is heightned by impenitency , so it is strengthned by impunity ; now god by his judgements gives some evidences of his being and soveraignty ; he hath , his coecum in mente flagellum , he hath his fulmen in orbe , and fulgur in animo pharaohs bold challenge of who is the lord , shall shrink into a , moses , pray for me when the lord is in the way of his judgements . 4. he will convince the world that scripture-threatnings are not only a voyce of words , but when and where the lord pleases , they are {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , they are fiery darts , the breakings forth of fiery indignation against impenitent sinners , especially when they meet with sinnes that do devastate conscience , such as the sins here witnessed against ; sins that provoke the eyes of gods glory , which in no nation , if raigning , he will suffer to go unpunished : he is a jealous god , & where his honour is so eminently concerned , he will unsheath his wrath , the first of these in a bestial metamorphosis , strives to raze out his image , the second to tear his name , the third to deprive him of his worship ; and i cannot but approve and encourage the design of the ingenuous author ; who , whilst these crying sins dare with an open and brazen face , so frequently shew themselves , will set a brand upon their foreheads , of the notable judgements of god against them ▪ and for my own part , i would not be wanting to countenance such publick designes for god , for the discovering of the eminent judgments of god against these sins , may like the angell to balaam , stop the career of some sinner , provoke the zeale of those magistrates , and under officers , upon whom god and man , so loudly call for a severe proceeding against these sins , and draw forth from the people of god that glorious confession , psal. 58.11 . verily he is a god that judgeth in the earth . books of this nature may do much good , where sermons cannot reach through the prophane absence of many of those that are most guilty of these sins . i shall say no more , but recommend the ensuing treatise to thy serious perusall , and subscribe my self one willing to be a servant to any design for god , j. hammond . to the jvstices of peace in the nation ; especially these northerne parts . gentlemen , the chief pillars of a nation , are the magistracy and ministery ; the one for punishing sin , the other for advancement of righteousnesse . these are the officers of state , which , like the two great luminaries of heaven , give law to all the rest ; and amongst the wisest , and best of men , are accounted as useful to a common-wealth , as castor and polux , to the mariners in a tempestuous night : so that as the flux and reflux of nile , portends plenty , or dearth ; so these sword-bearers of god , are pledges of his favour , to that nation , or place , where they are honoured and respected ; and great care ought to be had in the due election of such as may be for the promotion of the great end of such places : for , as one lately said well , they should not be like brambles , which teare the wool off the poor sheeps backs that come to shelter , for protection , under them . the lacedemonians chose none into the senate as magistrates , but onely upon account of honesty and vertue ; forgeting the bare consideration of riches , friends , &c. where piety was a stranger . and cicero tells us , a good magistrate is the common-wealths physitian , badge of vertue , staff of peace , and pillar of honour . i would onely beg leave to break my thoughts to the first of these : and though to some this may seem boldnesse to be free ; yet considering that a good cause teacheth confidence . i think in this case i should offend if i presumed not ; and i have taken care so to order my flight , as not to soare above the region of duty and civility . gentlemen , i set before you three grand impieties , viz drunkenness , swearing , and sabbath-breaking , sins that are opera tenebrarum ; it 's your work to look to them , they are rageing , reigning , polluting sins ; sins for which a land mourns , and the nation puts on the sable garments of sorrow and heavinesse : these sins beget a controversie betwixt a people , a place , a person , and god , and who is able to abide his indignation ? for if once his wrath be but a little kindled , blessed are all they that put their trust in him . these therefore are sins that ought not to go unpunished , and that without the strictest severity in a christian common-wealth . magistrates are not to beare the sword in vain ; if you do not quarrel with sin , god will with you ; you are , or should ●e , the banks of the common-wealth , to keep us from a land-flood , and torrent of confusion ; you are the hed●es to prophanesse : the life of the law is executions ; it s a principle in moral policy , that not to execute the lawes , is worse than to break them , acts and ordinances will not beat down prophanesse , unlesse the first be throughly acted , and the last set on fire by authority : many take encouragement by the slack execution of justice , which otherwise might with care prove a hinderance , not onely from sin , but punishment , nay , it may be , from eternal flames . i am much afraid that many are guilty of others sins , more than they dream of , by suffering their understandings to be darkened in the sense of their duties , thorough the sight of their honours ; not seriously weighing what trust god hath committed to them : they cannot deny presentments , but think it a work below them to search and find out debaucht houses , or persons , or examine who idlely stayes from the word ; or take care in publick resorts , to find out blasphemers , cursers , and swearers , and punish them in the act. how sad would it be to us , if we heard the sad cryes in torment ? it may be some saying , o that the magistrate had hedged up my way with thorns ! had he set bounds to my drunken meetings , cursed oathes , and prophane sabbath-breaking ; then had i not been now roaring in anguish , under the fury of a revengful god! the mild punishment of obstinate transgressors , makes sin grown to an excrescency : it festers a body politick , as well as natural , to have the wounds not thoroughly dressed ; it forces to a relapse , where the causes are not diverted or rooted out . seeing drunkennesse hath so great confidence , as if authority led it by the hand , let me strike at the bowels of it , that hath so many thousands crawling out of it ; oh that we might see this sin reel with the drunkard ! that there were a frequent visiting of ale-houses , and none suffered , under the greatest engagements , not to suffer any to be drunk , or drink to excesse ! and methinks , as i travel these northern parts , especially about ( i had almost said in ) the metropolis of these counties , it s scarce possible to passe without infection , the streets are lined with these pest-houses ; the greatest wonder is , that they are under the roof of authority , and yet suffered to breath . oh down with disordered ale-houses , that ●rove the hell and damnation ●f many a poor soul ! where many poor wretches sit securely , and there drown their families bread in drunkennesse ! where many a person of respect , buyes the ruin of his families honour , together with his own ▪ at a vast expense ! one said , if it were not for secret drunkennesse , they might bar up their doors ; oh , set a barica● do to the entrance of such impieties and villanies , which flow hither as the humours to the stomack ! banish these fire ships from the coasts of ● christian common-wealth , o● we shall be set on fire from hell● then your towns , counties cities , and the whole nation will move in a regular orbe , & congregations be well filled we may say , it would be a wonder in england if it were in any great town , as it was in rome , where there was a street called vicus sobrius , because there was not an ale-house in it . what if some have no other living ? the question is , can they live no otherwise , than by making men drunk ? i admire the neglect of this foundation of reformation in this place , which so oft by the faithfull servants of god hath been reiterated in our congregations ! if these corners of hell were blown down with the breath of authority , all the traine of attendants , like a great courtiers , would fall with himself ; as cursing , swearing , blaspheming , the holy name of god , murthers , adulteries , and all other such wickednesses , for which the hand of the lord is ready with his judgements to reach us : till this be done , till we see the sword of justice make sin stagger , and like that mighty wind that came from the wildernesse upon jobs children , blow down the four corners of these places of iniquity ; i say , till this come to passe , every moment will thrive towards a dismal no one , the minutes of time will swell into ages , and those into eternity of punishments , if not prevented . if gods wrath and anger be the evils that compasse these sins about , like sparks of our own kindling , and if the reformation of sin , be the removing of judgement ? what need then to strike at the root of iniquity ? if ahabs humiliation , and the ninevites sackcloth and ashes , caused god to let the resolution of his judgements run backwards ; if phineas zeal stayed the plague , and saved many thousands ; i say , if outward reformation tyes gods hands from outward plagues , what need then to look about and reform ? lest we that are left of so many thousands lately swept away by sicknesse , diseasses &c. be made examples because we learn not to beware . i could instance many examples of gods severity , to such as were slack in their duties ; as eli , whose impunity to his sons impiety , shrunk him under the heavy stroke of justice ; but i had rather lead you by examples of piety and justice , than drive you by those of judgements . look to nehemiah , he sets servants at the gates of the city , and laid hands on such as prophaned the lords day . it s worthy observation , what ambrose sayes to theodosius ; that he was more earnest and careful , to observe the things of god as a magistrate , than himself as a man . the lacedemonians had their ephori ; magistrates that took care to all manner of intemperance and excesse in the city , and if any were found , they were beaten publickly . the carthaginians made a law , that no magistrate should drink wine ; such was their care to avoid this beastly sin of drunkennesse : solons law was death to a prince that was drunk . in carthage , lacedemon , and creet , this sin was so abominable , that all which were found guilty of it , were thrust out of the senate , and dismantled of all manner of liberty to bear any office in their cities . what zeal was here in heathens against this odious sin ? and this may not unfitly be accounted as the reason why a woman reflected upon king philips unrighteous sentence of judgement , by desiring to have her cause removed from drunken philip , to king philip sober : and it may be , this sin of his , was the cause of his death , which by a lacedemonian gentleman was executed by a thrust in his body , because he refused to do justice . we read of lewis king of france , upon reading psal. 106.3 . blessed are they that keep judgement , and he that doth righteousnesse at all times ; was so wrought upon , that he presently said ; he that doth not punish sin , is the patron of it . these sins i speak of , are grown now so bold by impunity , as if justice were afraid to look them in the face ; like the snake in the fable , rise up against the greatest and most noble ingenuity possible ; its severity must subdue them . when true zeal bends the bow , and draws the arrow of justice to the head , then it strikes sin to the heart ; it flyes home to the life of the law , and death of the offence . a modern example we have of an irish lord , who lodged at west-kirby waiting for his passage , and being a prodigious swearer , the officers serve a warrant upon him , at which he rages with curses and oathes ; but they seize upon his horses , and forced him to pay 20 pound to the use of the poor of the parish ; and all the while he stayed there , his tongue was held as with a bit and bridle . this is the true effect of justice , which looks not asquint upon any man ; like aristides , who without an eye of favour to father , or friend , or malice to his enemies , distributed alike to all , so that he purchased the deserved name of aristides the just . in the areopagite judicature , they onely heard the cause , and never saw the persons , giving judgement in the night , that all might have equall justice . i cannot omit the example of one * mr. jourdain , of whom it might be said as of david , that the zeal of gods house had eaten him up ! for when the book of sports came forth , he sent an expostulatory letter to the king , inclosed to the bishop of exceter , who carefully conveyed it to his majesty , who reading , said in a rage , he should be hanged that wrote it : the bishop fell on his knees , and begged pardon , saying , that god had not a better servant , nor his majesty a better subject . the bishop after being visited by mr. jourdain , said ; ah! mr. jourdain , would you put me upon so hot service , knowing how many eyes * are upon me ! who replied , yea my lord , the eyes of god , and his holy angels , are upon you , to see how you discharge your office and duty . by his justice upon swearers , he brought such an awe and dread upon men adicted to that sin , that many citizens observed , that in places of publick resort , they heard not an oath sworn for many years together . i le end with one pretty passage recorded of king james , who being upon removal to theobalds , his majesties carriages went out of the city upon the lords day , which the lord mayor hearing of , commanded them to be stopt ; which affront , was represented to the king , with as great asperity , as men in authority crossed in their humours , could expresse . the king swears , he thought there had been no more kings in england but himself ; but when it may be he thought there was a king in heaven ; he sent a warrant to the lord mayor , whom with these words he obeyed . while it was in my power , i did my duty ; but being taken away by a higher power , it is my duty to obey ; which afterward it 's said , the king took well , and thanked him for . but least i be taken for one ▪ transported with an over-hea● of zeal , without a regular and proportioned mixture of knowledge , give me liberty to clear my self , and leav● my thoughts behind me , th●● i may not be found guil● of that asperse , ( which some men pressed with a fiery zeal , vented more in passion than discretion ) which fixes a scandal to justice , more than it promotes gods honour or reformation of men : were to consult with the prudent part of our duties , mannaging punishment to such as are drawn aside by temptation , &c. with reproof , and that secretly : but to incorrigible transgressors , such as are so accustomed to do evil , as if they professed debauched courses , let the severity of the law proceed ; for to such onely , the law strikes , to such as will not be warned : who can they blame but themselves , if they smart ? and if i should here plead for respect to be had to persons , it may by some be thought , to be out of the way ; but however , i am much for it , and do account it no lesse than a grand master-piece of prudence ; for if such as seem to lead others by their example , be won from prophanesse , the fruits cannot be bad . if therefore there be any of the better ranke which digresse from the good orders of government , either of the nation , or themselves , we are to use such with all the winning respect imaginable ; and if the law be satisfied , not to provoke their displeasure : the law aimes more at reformation than punishment ; and to persons of quality , whose reputations in the beame of honour weighs down the rate of their punishment : we ought to deal with candid behaviour , and to extend meeknesse and respect , as far as the greatest civility , and favour of law will reach . vpon this ground , no question , was that prudent piece of administration of justice ; performed by a chief magistrate , upon a person of quality , not long ago ; by sending a letter , begging his excuse , and hoping as ●e was a gentleman , he would not be angry at the administration of justice , which was his honour ; demanding satisfaction which was due by law for so many oathes , which in such a place he had sworn ; the gentleman with a high acknowledgment of civility , freely submitted . i would not be thought a favourer of debauchedness in any , much less in the gentry , in whom , if such vice● be set , they have a bad foil ; ye● i must needs say , they ough● to have more allowance that common persons ; especially if they be ingenious ( as alas many that are most ingenious most often fall into the snar● of temptations ! ) a little liberty they expect more than others , and as much as is not an affront to the law , let them have ; because , its fit to win such by civility , which the law cannot by force do , without a rape upon their honours and reputations ; and one great reason is , because many times inferiour persons are the inflictors of punishment , which cannot have over good a relish , unlesse sweetned with a kinde of submission ; and therefore when drink or passion is departed , then to write or send to them : yet where civillity and meeknesse will not allure , to that just decency and order , which holds conformity to the wholesome lawes of the nation , then currat lex . all which i could wish were done without malice , prejudice , revenge , a spirit of domineering , or to be accounted some petty some body ; but with a principle , that may not onely approve the integrity of a mans soul to act for the glory of god , but also a not expecting your reward from popularity , or any other secret advantage below the truth and intent of the action ; guided by the best principles both divine and moral . now , gentlemen , to you that are guilty , or may be found in these disorders ; if lawes were not , we had as good live amongst salvages ; you could not say your lives were your own , if another through fear of the lawes , were not kept from murdering you ; if we had none to punish transgressors , we had as good be without lawes : for your own honours therefore , beware you involve not your reputations to the punishment of every mean officer ; be not angry at justice which is more the honour of the gentry , then any ; because they are looked upon as patrons of it : be rather like king henry the fourth , who thanked god , that justice was executed , though it lighted upon one of his own loyns . to conclude , are not these sins fitter ( if for any in any sense ) for brutes , beasts , beggars , and the scum of a nation , than for gentlemen or christians ? for shame then , you that are in any degree guilty of such foul spots of dishonour , to the nation , to christianity , to your families , good names , and your own souls , let these wicked , debauched , beastly , prophane sins , be abandoned from your thoughts and actions , and hate it in others , that the nation ( the gentry first leading the van ) may make iniquity and sin blush , and even shame these vild courses to the eternal honour of england . and now gentlemen , to whom i have been bold to dedicate my paines , i beg you to look upon the work , in that which you see it doth drive at , and not at the unworthinesse of the authour , whose desire in it is nothing lesse , than may be concluded in this wish : that by your good government , they that are to come , may blesse your remembrance , and we present , may together with your selves , live a comfortable , peaceable , and quiet life , and that in all godlinesse and honesty . so prayes your humble servant w. l. to the reader . when i weigh my owne unworthinesse in the ballance with any thing that may be called a work for god , i am extremely discouraged to adventure ; wondring more that the lord should not rather make me a warning to others , by his judgements upon me for my own sin , then to write examples of others ; in the deep sence whereof , i cannot say that i was constrained to this work , purely from those noble and divine principles , which should move in the wheeles of all undertakings for the glory of god ▪ and good of others , lest i deceive my own spirit ; though ● desire a heart for both ; fo● upon a strict scrutiny , it will be found a difficult , and more then common attainment● though most men are loath ▪ but in all their designes to plume themselves with these fair feathers ; so that in modesty i choose to be rather jealous it is not so , then boast it as a reason that it is , i can indeed say and that truly , that i am an honourer , and lover of order , decency , and good government in a nation , city , or town ; and from a naturall and moral principle , do detest these three sins of drunkennesse , swearing , and sabbath-breaking , as they strike at the honour of order , government : and the reputation of a nation , place or person : and i wish this principle were wrought in such ingenuous persons , as otherwise are not perswaded of a greater evill in these sins ; they are evills that wound the glory of god , honour of a christian state , and the good of a civill government ; yet have i been wound up to more then a common hatred of these notorious sinnes , since i have seen the face of them in the glasse of gods judgements . i have observed drunkennesse , swearing , and the slight observance of the lords day , with the profanation of it , to grow the more by opposition , which i think is , because but slenderly punnished , like the seas , where but bounded with weak banks , rages and roares the more , when they are broken down ; i have likewise observed , that that which should be our greatest honor , is turned into sin , in that they which are under the strictest tye to christianity by profession , should so profane the lords day , and keep it with lesse exactnesse , then the heathens do their dayes of worshiping the devil , whilst we in troops runne to the profanation of god and his holy ordinances , by more then the one halfe of most parishes absenting themselves from the congregation , and either prophane the day by drinking , or , which is as sad , by a more then heathenish idlenesse and sloathfull contempt of their own salvation ; nay , and this is so common , that it seems not otherwise , then if it were turned into a law to contemne the meanes of salvatien , and slight , and abuse such as would turn them aside from hell and eternal damnation ; and by this meanes they slight the faithful ministers of the gospel , that labour night and day for the good of our soules , which i account the first step to apostasy from the ways of god . i have likewise observed the slack execution of lawes , by justices not performeing their duties , discourageing under officers , and leaving them a scorn and a reproach to wicked and ungodly men ; and if it please not the lord to stir up the hearts of justices of the peace themselves , to search diligently , to go about and find out disordered houses , ( the plagues of the nation ) and hunt men out of their houses to the congregation , sin will grow impudent , and bold ; if i say they do not shew their faces , to encourage and set a rate upon others under them ; men will be hardened in their wayes , and be taught to grow worse by the faintnesse of justice ; and this i account a duty , which a good conscience rightly principled cannot shift , nor excuse before god or their own consciences . the consideration of these things , with the tendency of all to ruine , where these evills are not redressed , put me upon this , ( i hope useful , and may i not say necessary ? ) work ; especially considering the use of judgements ; their energy if pondered in a sober and deliberate mind ; they walk not alone , the causes and ends are to be examined ; nor are they only limited to the persons or sins they punish , but for warning others from the like sins , or any other sinnes whatsoever . and we see how god loves to warne before he strike , so he did to nineve and belshazar , and used very much of long-suffering and patience to pharaoh , whose heart at last not taking warning , he ●ardened ; what are examples of gods judgements upon others for , if not to keep us from being the examples our selves ? and though precepts in●eed are very binding , yet they never shine so much , as when set in examples . we are all acquainted how little hold reproofs , admonitions , and exhortations from the pulpit take of men : therefore it is , that i have great hopes , that these examples may do good ; for as one in another case sayes , a verse may find him whom a sermon flyes , and turn delight into a sacrifice . so such as come not to hea● their sins ript open in a soul● searching sermon , may by reading , or hearing these examples , be frightened at the voyce of gods judgements . to consider the severity of god to those that fell , may well make us think with our selves , shall i that am guilty as much as others , be yet in the land of the living ? will not the patience , goodnesse , and long-suffering of god , lead us to repentance ? i say examples are of more force to move , nay to instruct , then the arguments and proofs of reason , or their precise precepts ; for they shew things not onely ●n the theory , but in the practice and execution . it 's reported of one waldus in france , that at the sight of gods judgement upon on● that was suddenly struck dead ; went home , and admonished his friends to repent , and turne from their evill wayes , and wa● himself a famous christian● from whom also sprang the name of the waldenses . examples mix so with the apprehensions , as they force the mind to a deeper understanding , and search , of the ends and causes of them . what i have collected are not of common examples , which daily present themselves before our eye● but such as are the most notorious and remarkable , and i question not but authentick ; those of modern and more late experience , i have taken from such authours as are living , and who from their own knowledge have given testimony to the truth of them . now what am i , that should undertake to direct others in that , wherein i am to seek my self by walking below the strictnesse of what i prescribe to others , and short of my own duty , having , it may be , that found upon my trencher , which i disswade others from as pernicious ? yet i consider the advantages of the undertaking , and , it may be , this may be one to my self , that these strict limits to others , will girt me more straitly within the compasse of my own duty ; and though this hath been strugling for a birth a long time yet now the truth and integrity of my intentions have prevailed to launch into a sea of censures , and if i aim at the good of others in the reformation of their minds and manners ; i am sure it cannot be any hurt to them or my self : and this is the rock on which i hope to stand against the proud assaults of envy or detraction ; for if any thing in the ayme or intention be good , it 's made of more value by the diffusive quality of it , in disaffecting that humour of aspendius , who delighted to play on his harp , so that none should heare but himselfe . i shall conclude in the words of the apostle , and pray : that the love of god which hath appeared unto all men , may teach us to deny all ungodlinesse , and worldly lusts ; and to live soberly , righteously , and godly in this present world . w. l. the contents of the whole . the character of drunkards . page 1.2.3 . drunkennesse a sin against the lawes of temperance and sobriety , and the practice of heathens against it . 4.5 . the strict lawes of heathens against drunnkennesse . 6. the spiritual evils of drunkennesse . 7. drunkennesse the fountain of other sins . 8.9 . the outward evils which accompany this sin of drunkennesse , consumption of estate , ruine of relations , losse of health , a shame to friends , scorn to servants , derision to boyes , losse of sences , &c. 10.11.12 . &c. a friendly exhortation to such gentlemen as are tempted to this sin ; especially to the most learned , and ingenuous persons . 16.17 . &c. gods threatnings aginst drunkennesse . 21.22 . gods righteous and terrible judgements upon such as take not warning ; in a collection of the most choyce examples , such only as bear the strongest remark of gods displeasure . 23.24 . to 45. some few disswasives from this sin of drunkennesse . 46.47 . of profane taking the lords name in vain by cursed oathes , &c. 51. the several aggravations of this sin of cursing and swearing . 52. swearing a sinne directly against god himself . ibid. it 's a sin of high ingratitude . 53 the sin of the devils in hell . 54 no profit by it . ibid heathens detest it . 55 dissuasives from it . 56.57 the severity of former lawes , and time against wicked swearing . 57. gods threatnings against it . 58. gods severity in his just judgements upon such as practised it , in a few sad and doleful examples . 59 , 60. to 59. the sin of profaningg the sabbath day , a great sin . 83.84 . the strict command of god himselfe to observe it . 85. gods own practice for our example , to keep one day in seven from labour , &c. 84. gods end in commanding us to observe it , is for our own good . 88. the reasonablenesse of gods command , for one in seven . 89. the breach of this day a great sin by many high aggravations of it , &c. 90. a sin against gods daily blessings and mercy to us . 91. a word to such as sit idly at home on the lords day . 92. a word to such as profane it , by playing , drinking , &c. 91. perswasions to hear the word , and attend ordinances , as the greatest advantages to our soules . 93.94 . objections answered . 95. gods threatenings against sabbath-breakers . 96.97 . gods severe examples of judgement and justice upon the profaners of the sabbath day . 98.99 . to 125. conclusion . 125.126.127.128 . of drunkennesse , and gods judgements upon drunkards : the sin of drunkenesse being the womb of all others , i chuse first to speak of ; by shewing , what a loathsome creature a drunkard is ; how it 's condemned by the lawes of nature , as well as nations ; the sad consequences of it , to soul , to body ; by setting a full point to his life , when nature hath not yet made a comma : ruining his family and relations , leaving himself at last a prey to necessity , and scorne to fooles . the aggravation of this sin to the gentry , who by their birth , estates , parts , &c. are seated above the reach of such vulgar rudenesse ; and therefore should soare so high with a noble mind , as to scorne to prey upon such garbage , as is only fit to feed swine with . the threatnings of god against this sin , with his judgements for it . first then , a drunkard may be called a monster ; such as entred not into the ark ; unlesse you account noah one , who fell through temptation ; he made no practice of it , yet smarted for his pregnant curiosity , to make an assay upon the unruly spirit of wine ; but let 's more strictly visit him , it's charity to visit the sick . i take him to be no man ; god indeed made him one , but that stamp and superscription of god set upon him to distinguish him from other creatures is so defaced , that if all other of gods creatures had done the like , who could have traced in the search of the knowledge o● god in his creatures ? if then he be n● man , he is no beast ; for in this sence they are sober , content with the liberty of natures choyce ; if neither man , nor beast , then sure god never made him ; his soul is drowned , so n● man ; his sence is lost , so no beast ; if we grant he have a rational being , it is like those idols mentioned , that have eyes and see not , eares and hear not , neither do they perceive any thing ▪ the man is turned out of possession ; here lies the cabinet , the jewel's lost . he is antipode to all other creatures , nay to god himself ; if you will have him a beast , he must be a beast of prey , whose belly is the very sepulcher of gods creatures , as if his life were but potestas vivendi ut velis ; like him that mourned , because his sences were not incorporated into that one of tasting ; which pleasure he wished had been spread over all his body , whereby he might have ranged over all the sweets of nature , with a prolonged delight . hannah gives the fittest name to him , in her answer to eli , count not thine handmaid a daughter of belial . in a word , he is a poor dead creature , a lazarus , whom god in mercy raise to life again ; that out of this chaos of insensible bestiality , god would please to speak a word of power , another fiat , even a voyce saying ; awake thou that sleepest , and arise from the dead , and christ will give thee light . let 's now see how much this sinne contributes to the breach of natures lawes , and how much condemned and rooted out by heathens . temperance and sobriety , those just stewards are dismantled of their authority , whilst this sin with schollars , shut the door against their master when they rebell ; it forces nature to run the gant-lope , which without violence would best provide for her self , if she could but spread her own table ; go to the crib you that are given up to ebriety , who cares for no more than what justly relieves the urgency of nature : i am too much afraid that it may justly be said of us , as it was once of philosophy ; that it was taught at athens , but practised in sparta . temperance and sobriety is taught in england , but practised in turkie ; alphonsus king of aragon , alwayes tempered his wine with water , least it should flie above his understanding , and betray his reason . it was a christian reply of alcamen to his frugal reprovers ; saying , that gods blessings should prompt us to live up unto reason , and moderation , not of ●ust , by turning gods mercies to a wanton liberty of excesse : the wicked man , sayes plutarch , liveth to eat and drink , but the good man , eateth and drinketh to live : and salust said , nothing can be more abject and hurtful than to be a slave to thy mouth and belly : gorgius being demanded how he came to live in health , to so great an age ; answered , by forbearing to eat or drink through pleasure . there is a breach of this temperance , a power to drink to a greater excesse in measure , and abuse of gods creatures , than many a weaker constitution can endure , without being drunk with the fourth part of other's riot : to drown and force nature beyond her due proportion , is a drunkennesse before god , though thou beest never overtaken with the power of it to the sight of the law . if a heathen could say , it becomes not a king to extinguish that by excesse of drink , which suports the name of an emperour : how much ought a christian to value his profession at a higher rate ? how sweet and comely a thing is it for men to live soberly , wisely , and temperately , by mixing our enjoyments with an equal proportion and measure of sobriety ? the opposite was that which stained the glory of great alexander . the lawes of heathens and former nations , condemn our impunity and cheapnesse of this sin : we do as it were sell drunkennesse ; for where forfeitures bite not above the pleasure of it , men will be content to pay for it . the ancient romans banished all epicures out of their cities , accounting them the plagues of youth . romulus made a law to punish drunkennesse in women with death . minos king of creet , suffered none to drink one to another unto drunkennesse , without the censure of the law . severer lawes are not in the world against this sin , than in turkie ; a story whereof i remember of one , that at a festival time , had been too liberal with his cups , and being carried before the grand vizier , had lead poured into his mouth and eares , and so died : not that one act needed such severity , so much as to suppresse the growth and progresse of sin : the law rather intends reformation than punishment , if the one might be without the other ; for lex non irascitur . let 's see the spiritual evils of this sin ; a drunkard wounds his own soul , his heart is like mare mortuum , where no grace can live , he drowns the voice of nature , and conscience , the two great lights which god sets up in every man ; he sells himself with ahab , to work wickednesse : tell him of god , he replies as the cyclops in the tragedy to vlysses ; i know no other god but my belly : or like that monk mentioned , who upon the news that all abbies were voted down , and yet his maintenance continued for life , stroaked his belly with these words , modo hic , sit bene ; his care was past , so long as his camp was victualled : with solomons fool , come let 's drinks , for to morrow we shall die ; but remember , post mortem nulla voluptas . is it not a sad thing , to see men drown body and soul together ? men may play with their eternal estates , and dance about the flames , and never see their danger till irrecoverable . how many like amnon , die drunk , carry their own condemnation with them ; that as sir gervise elloway said ; his own hand which he took such a pride in , appeared to his condemnation , when nothing else could have wrought it : and such judgements are heavy , seeming as if the execution were alike intended against the soul , as well as the body ; they spend their dayes in mirth , and suddenly they go down to hell , job 31.13 . what art thou guilty of that occasions this sin ? which is accompanied with so great tokens of gods sore displeasure ? thou that in company forcest down drink , or takest pleasure in thy sad profit , by suffering them in thy house : read the prophet , wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink , that putteth the bottle to him , and maketh him drunken also . it swells greater yet , as its the fountain of other sins ; as nero wished the people of rome had but one neck , that with one stroke , he might cut it off : so the devil , makes up all his compounds of this one sin ; this he makes the onely rode to the breach of all gods commandments at once : as one well said ; prove a man ungrateful , and he is every thing that is evil : so let a man be a drunkard , and i le secure , he shall not stick at the vilest murther , rape , or whatever mischief come in his way . this sin is without a guard , and though it be the king of other sins , yet it hath not so much as a life-guard : for some kill their dearest friend , who when sober , account him according to that wise standard of solomons , friendship ; better than a brother : others their father , sister , and the wife of their bosom . cyrillus was slaine by his drunken son , who not content with his fathers blood , sends his mother with child to another world , in a bloody winding-sheet ; wounds one of his sisters , and deflowers another . uncleannesse escapes not this beastly sin , any more than murder , an example whereof is recorded of one , that tempted to adultery , murder , or drunkennesse , chose the last , as the least , but proved the greatest ; it was all of them : for now drunk , he commits adultery with one , whose husband at the same time coming in , he murders : the sin of uncleannesse is the channel wherein drunkennesse runneth : nunquam ego ebrium castum putabo , sayes one : i will never believe that chastity lodgeth in the drunkards bed : as its said of pumming-stones amongst the mediterranean islands , that they are produced of the scum of those seas ; so i may say of uncleannesse , that it is the froth of drunkennesse . wine is to most men the milk of venus ; he can never have a pure soul in a chast body , that sucks at these breasts , that frequents the society of this baude of lust . it is the furnace of lust , the forge on which the devil frames all other sins upon . as in nature all things spring from the root , so all sins are incorporated into this one of drunkennesse ; as our natures contain the seeds of all impiety , and there lie for mintage : so when once a man is drunk , he is ready to coine any mischief , and set the devils stampe on every action . i pray god keep every man from this sin . the outward evils are not few ▪ thy estate , family , relations , smart for thy drunken excesse ; and when thou art under the extremity , what thinkest thou is the greatest smart , but to consider , that thy distraction is of thy self ? if a severer judgement prevent not , this misery of want and need ●n old age , will be the inseparable ghost of this sin . a drunkard makes himself the living tomb of his ancestors , travelling from luxury to necessity , never till now writes an omnia vanit as upon his extravagancies . this sin , sayes one , is like gun-powder , which blowes up many a faire fortune . and , no doubt , that which cuts sore , is , to consider , not onely my own misery and poverty , but that my poor and innocent relations , should come to misery , thorough the road of my sin ; that thorough want , they should be put upon such rocks of sin and temptation , as post them out of the world with lamentation and woes , against such courses , the guilt whereof lyeth at my door . this is the vinegar , and gall . the next evil is , the miserable estate of their bodies ; some mens sins run before to judgement , and some come after : this sin , i think , is foremost in every thing ; for whereas god sayes , i will destroy both the meat , and the belly ; he cries , no , no , i will not stay so long , i le destroy my self by rhumes , dropsies , gouts , inflammations , apoplexies ; who sees no● complexions altered , countenanc● changed ? how many destroyed by ● violent death ? infinite numbers drowned , some broken in pieces by falling into pits , fall off horse-back dead● fareing with them as it is said of tha●pope whom the devill carried away with him in the very act of adultery intemperance is a root proper to every disease ; sayes plato : and sicknesse is the chastisement of intemperance . seneca who hath woe ? who hath sorrow● who hath contention ? who wound without cure ? those that stay long a● the wine , saith the royall phylosopher . he is next a shame to his relations , his servants scorn and slight him so cheaply doth he part with his honour , and authority , that his groom i● his master ; is any thing in the world so much the subject of folly and laughter , to the meanest persons , even to the boyes in the street ? as once at a meeting , a company of persons having a tempest in their heads , by reason of a sea o● drink , verily thought the house a pinnace at sea , and the storm so vehement , that they unladed the vessel , throwing all they could get hold of , out of the windowes , instead of over-board , cal●●ng the constable neptune ; some got under the tables , as under the hatches , another holds a great pot for the mast , ●hinking that that which once threw him down , might now hold him up ; all of them crying out , what pitty it was ●o many brave gentleman should be ●●st , and founderd at sea ! that could not find the way home by land ; not ●uch unlike a gentleman of no mean ●rts , attending a funerall in the ●hurch , pulled out his keyes , and ●hockt at the pue door , calling of the ●●awer for a reckoning : or him that ●ught his horse in every inne , when he ●me on foot to the town . the most remarkable story i find recorded , is of one ●hom the duke of burgundy found dead ●unk , and carried to the pallace ; dis●●bed of his own apparell , and equiped ● the court mode ; as soon as he a●aked , the dukes attendants wait upon ●●m , perswade him he is some great ●ince : they serve up dinner with ●e same state as to the duke himself , ●t a word spoke , all in silence , to the ●eat astonishment of the poor man , and ● small recreation of the duke and ●dies : after supper they began to revell it in his presence , the musick play and dances begin , with a great shew ● much splendor , according to the custo● of the court ; which done , they fill b● belly as full of drink , as his head w● empty of wit and reason , so convey● him to the place where he was foun● putting on his own apparell ; the m● when recovered , when invested wi● reason , made better sport with his ow● imagination ; the jest being all the ear●est of his confused conceptions , w● now had his understanding as farre● seek in pursuit of his own information as when he was drunk ; hardly believin● but that now he was drunk , if ● thought it any thing above a pleasa●● and delightful dream ; this he resolve● that a vision he had seen , and could n● by any means be disswaded from i● thus are the sences besotted , the m●mory that noble recorder lost , an● reason it selfe more stupified , then ● any capacity to use it . this is the evi●● of it , that let him do the greatest evil● he remembers it not . he knowes not what a secret i● though it concern his own life or ● state ; and this is the reason that i● some courts they tempt embassado● to ebriety , knowing that he will then be as leaky at the mouth , as an old ship at sea ; all he knowes , comes up with as much ease , as his drink went down ; it is just with a drunkard , as it is said of a spaniard , and a frenchman ; that all the drugges in egypt , is not able to purge a secret out of the former , which is a sicknesse and punishment for the latter to retain . i could have said much more of the evill effects of this sin , but i affect brevity , though i fear to be tedious . we see it is a wofull , doleful sinne ; damnes the soul without repentance , destroyes body , estate , reputation of a good name ; in a word , undoes in this life , and that which is eternall . me thinks i see the whole nation reel under the depression of this sin , as in that though often cut , yet like quick hedges grow again ; hydra-like , increases by his wounds ; but if once cut at the root the cedars as well as the shrubs would fall to the ground ; so long as the tall okes stand to shelter the storms of authority from the brambles ; lets never expect a hopefull reformation of this abuse . for as gondamar said at a councel at madrid , never let 's expect good from the netherlands , so long as england feeds the humours ; let 's begin at the cause , and the effects will follow ; so i say if exhortations , threatenings , nor civility , will serve to find out common ingenuity from the great ones , let a handle be cut out of the bowels of greatnesse it self , to lop of these exuberant branches of wickednesse , which hinder the buddings o● vertue , and promote the worst of vices ; but because i account my self strictly related to wish them well , give m● leave to treat civilly with the gentry . and oh that i could perswade som● gentlemen from this foolish sordid and unmanly trade of drinking ! some few there are , and i hope but few , tha● think it an honour to be drunk , swear and roar with debaucht company ; many there are in these counties as wel● as other , which bear the remarks of exemplary piety ; persons , who for their vertues , are the honour of their country , whose conversations alone set a brand upon debauchedness ; of such i be● the honour to honour them : but such as are addicted to this sin , i would distill better perswasions into their minds ▪ especially to such as in all points save this , are extreamely ingenuous ; and such as through their too much ingenuity cannot resist temptations , i pity their easie natures , and wish their temperatures had been more steril and morose ! oh that i could reach the most inward part , and there plant the force of perswasion if it were but to a moral and philosophical kind of life ! that in the sight of this debauched and beastly custom of excesse , and riot , they might live like sober and discreet men , rather glorying in their sobriety like christians , than ●mpiety like beasts . mirth , chearfulnesse , and sobriety , may be nourished without the foolish custom of drinking healths , on purpose to be drunk . as lord bacon in his speech in star-chamber , upon the consideration of ●hat cruelty acted against sir tho. ●verbury , by imprisonment said ; it s ●are in the island of brittain , it s neither of our country , nor church ; in ●ome and italy there is a religion for 〈◊〉 ; if it should come amongst us , it were ●tter living in a vvildernesse , than a court . may i not wish , that drunken●esse were a sin rare in the island of britain ? this , i say , let other nations have a religion to be debauched and drunk , let it be to other nations as their natures ; but let england account it self a wildernesse o● wild beasts , when this sin reigns : le● us say , it s better to live amongst salvages , than such beasts as adam never found , nor god never created . this sin formerly was practise onely by tinkers , beggars , &c. it wa● a shame to a gentleman to be drunk but alas ! how many now glory i● their shame , instead of being ( b● their moderation , knowledge , and sobriety ) a glory to their country ▪ would but shame attend this sin , ● would soon be left , but this boastin● of such a dayes meeting , wipes off ● shame ; so that men grow hardned ● their iniquity . he that tempts me ● passe the bounds of moderation , a ● sobriety , does but civilly invite ● to a fever , or some ruinous distemp●ile drink my own health , sayes a w● man , and pray for the kings . wh●intollerable madnesse● sayes a learn●● divine , hath seized upon great porti●● of mankind , that this folly should poss●● the greatest spirits , the wittiest men ! ● best company ! the most sensible of the word honour ! the most jealous of loosing the shadow , but throw away the thing ! thou hadst better give away thy estate , than say thy belly was the grave of thy patrimony . is it not a horrid thing , that a wise , learned , or noble person , should lose his honours , become an apellative of scorn , a scene of abuses , a dishonour to that party for which he with ●thers have suffered ? that which i ●eplore , sayes he , is , that most men pre●er a cause before their life , and by one drunken meeting , set it further backward in its hopes , and blessings , than a whole year of counsells and arms can ●epair . indeed the nation would hardly ●lush , if onely the scum and froth of ●t were tainted ; but for this disease ●o fall upon the vitals , it s a dye in ●rain , a ruine to honour without a ●emedy . i hope there are sparkes of ●ngenuity yet remaining in some , as well as this sin , which if once they take ●re , from the consideration , either of ●hreatnings , judgements , reason , honour , ●eputation , or a good name , this de●auchednesse would soon be blown ●nto the aire ; and if once the gentry left it , then it would become a shame indeed in the very nation : but i fear the habit and custom of this sin , will force us at last to the sordid practise of some nations , where it s not accounted friendly entertainment , if men be not drunk before they part ; i wish it may not be found a practise in some gentlemens houses in this nation ! let me conclude with lamenting , and perswading ; is it not a great pity , that men of the greatest honour , and expectations of the nation for gentility , breeding , learning , &c. should suffer the shipwrack of every thing that can be called good ! that such should be so sadly ruined in this se● of drunkennesse ! which like a hericane , spareth none , but such as feel a lesse punishment than ruine it self . a● one said , he could willingly lose half his learning , to redeem his health ; so many may lament and wish half their knowledge and learning which once they had ! may i perswade you , let me tell you , it s as much below gentility , as a gentleman is above other by birth , and that which should distinguish him from other more peasantly deportments . can there be no medium in your mirth and chearfull repasts , below this sinne of dishonour , beastly , and debaucht behaviour ? let me beg you to hate it , and remember that nothing more ennobles a gentlemans name , or blazons forth his honour and reputation , but studying an aptitude for his countries service , purchased not by drunkennesse , and beastlinesse ; but by learning , parts , knowledge , wisdom , sobriety , temperance , vrbanity , and all which , this sin destroyes , if you escape with the shipwrack of a good conscience : let solomons instruction be remembred ; my son , be not among the wine bibbers , for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty . if perswasions built upon the prin●iples of reason , the sad fruits of it , ●ame , dishonour , &c. gods threatning must nextly have place , which indeed are not small , and yet will but ●ake way for his more severe dispensations in his judgements . wo to the drunkards of ephraim ; the lord as a mighty and strong one , which as a tempest of haile , and a detroying storme , as a flood of mighty waters and overflowing , shall pull down the pride of the drunkard ; for with wine they have erred , and with strong drink have gone out of the way : thy are swallowed up of wine ; for all tables are full of vomit , and filthinesse : for which the overflowing scourge is threatned , as a just reward for so great a sin ; together with famine , which saith the prophet in the last verse , cometh forth from the lord of hosts . and again , the lord calleth for weeping , howling , and lamentation , which shall come upon gluttony and drunkennesse ; and the lord of hosts , saith the prophet , hath revealed it in mine eare , that this iniquity shall not be purged from you , till y● die . in another place . vvo to them tha● are mighty to drink wine , and men o● strength to mingle strong drink ; for ● the fire devoureth the stubble , and the flame consumeth the chaff , so their root shall be rottennesse , and the blossom shall go ● as dust ; therefore is the anger of the lord kindled , and hath smitten them and the hills did tremble , and their carcases torn in the midst of the streets if these denunciations were deliberately weighed , how would the ver● joynts of sinners tremble , and smite one against another , as beltshazars , when he saw the hand-writing upon the wall . hear the prophet joel . awake ye drunkards , and weep and howle all ye drinkers of wine . god oft comes when we are asleep , and many poor souls have never awakened from their drunkennesse , till in hell with dives ; this is a sad awakening . go to , weep and howl , sayes st. james , ye have lived in pleasure and wantonnesse , and nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter . if yet all will not warne , what must gods appearances then be when he comes in terrour and wrath , by his visible examples of judgement , which i have collected from scripture , history , and modern experience . elah , king of israel , was murdered by zimri , in the midst of his cups , as a judgement of god upon his excesse . ammon , when his heart was merry with wine , was murdered by absoloms servants . righteous lot , by this sin commits incest with his own daughters ; and as one well observes , made a sodom of his own family . the heavy curse , that to this day lieth upon noah's son , cham's posterity , was through this sin , whereby he discovered his own shame . holofernes , having too much exceeded in wine , lost both wit and head at once . alexanders sorrow after his sin , will tell us the sad fruits of it ; for seldom some or other of his dear friends escaped his fury when he was drunk . cleomena , king of lacedemonia , at a time being drunk , was never sober after ; but as a judgement of the lord , he lost his senses for not having judgement to keep them . another is as justly rewarded with the fruit of the vine , anacreon , that grand engulpher of wine , was choaked with an empty grape . the earl of aspermont drained his estate so dry by his excesse in this sin , as he justly died in misery ; for at a meeting , he drunk so deep , as he could never rise again ; for he died with it . the emperour bonosius , through his custom in this sin , was said , not to be born so much to live , as to drink . this was he that would force drink into ambassadours , the better to pump up their secrets : he was shamefully hanged with this epitaph . this is a tun , and no man . zeno , emperour of the east , became so hateful by his intemperance , that none could endure to see him ; his wife ariadne one day when he lay senselesse ( as he oft did ) cast him into a tomb , and buried him alive , as a just reward of his drunkennesse . august 18. 1629. tho. vvilson labourer , a known blasphemer , and curser , by oathes , &c. was also given up to this beastly sin of drunkennesse ; who through the justice of god , against both sins , in an angry passion stab'd himself with his own knife , and so died in the midst of many neighbours . may 10. 1629. john bone of ely , coachman to mr. balnum of beenham , was a very vild swearer , and drunkard ; who on a sabbath day , in sermon-time , being drunk , and not able to sit in the coach-box , fell under the horses feet , and was troden to death . you sabbath-breakers , and swearers , hearken to this doleful example of gods immediate hand . nov. 16. 1618. one tho. alred of godmanchester butcher , being very prophane , and given to this sin , was desired by a neighbour to unpitch a load of hay , and being drunk , let his pitchfork fall , and stooping to reach it , standing with the forks upwards , fell upon it , that it run into his body , and so fell down dead , as a warning to others . july 16. 1628. one john vintner of godmanchester , being a known drunkard , and given ( especially in his drink ) to scoff at religion and godly people , fell from the top of a peare-tree , and broke his neck , and so died under the hand of justice : an example for all prophane drunkards , and scoffers of god and his people . a gentleman of good reputation , and demeanour , being not addicted to this sin , was through temptation overtaken with this snare ; but lo , justice will be satisfied on some , to be an example and terrour to others ; for riding home , his horse threw him , and beat out his brains : he being void of reason , and so not capable of advice , would follow no way but his own , which led to destruction ; for without fear or sense , he spurred his horse over all sorts of crosse and desperate wayes , till he thus fell under the stroak of divine wrath . about the year 1630. nigh maldon , five or six notorious drunkards had plotted a meeting , and laid in beer for their prophane drinking healths : but ( divine justice that can with his breath blast all our undertakings ) did so justly give them up to excesse in this sin and meeting , as they never met more , but all yielded up their spirits to the justice of that god , whom they abused by his creatures . a man coming home drunk , would needs swim in a mill dam , which his servants and wife disswaded him from , because he could not swim , and once got him out after he was in , but he gets in again , and by the just hand of god there perished . i was , says my authour , at the house to enquire of the truth thereof , and found it too sadly true . and one of alisham in norfolk , a notorious drunkard , was drowned in a shallow brook , with his horse standing by him . a butcher in haslingfield , scoffing at the preacher for his reproving of this sin , was in the instant of his railing , choaked by somewhat that stuck in his throat , which could by no means be got up or down ; but strangled him . oh the divine justice ! how righteous and just is the lord in all his wayes ! how are his judgements past finding out ! at tillingham in essex , 3 young men meeting to drink , one fell down dead , and never rose again ; the other two escaped through mercy ( by the gates of much sicknesse ) that they might repent , and if not , to be the lesse excusable , if god followed them by the like severity . at bungey in norforlk , three drunken companions coming out of an ale-hous in a dark evening , swore they thought hell was not darker ; but observe the end of justice ; one fell over a bridge , and was drowned ; the second slain with a fall from his horse : a third sleeping by the river side , was found frozen to death . at hedly , a bayliffe being drunk , got upon his mare , saying , she would carry him to the devill ; she indeed casts him off , and broke his neck . this justice was the more remarkable , being upon the lords day . a company meeting in an ale-house in harwich at night , over against mr. russels house , was once or twice desired to depart and avoyd such wickednesse ; but they would not : he comes to the place himself , and apprehends one of them , and offering to carry him to prison , he drawes his knife , and made his escape ; but oh the justice of the lord ! the strange and wonderfull wayes of his providence ! this man was not heard of for three dayes , and at last was taken out of the sea with his knife in his hand , justified by mr. russell himself , who was the mayor of the place . at tenby in pembrokeshire , a common and frequent drunkard , in the midst of this sin , fell from a high rock , and was broke in pieces ; and four other instances , my authour sayes he could relate wallowing and tumbling in their drink , slain by carts , &c. but being the common wayes of gods justice , he forbeares them in the midst of so many extraordinary and remarkable passages of gods justice and power , and indeed innumerable might be such instances , which the experience of every place prevents in this . a glasier in chancery lane london , having some sparks of profession , but falling from them , fell into this sin ; who being often reproved by his christian friends , and no better : god hardened his heart against them , and once being drunk , by the violence of vomiting , broke a vein , continued two dayes in extremity of anguish and torment , not without great conflicts and distresse of mind , his conscience being awakened , and god in much mercy breathing some comfort to his distressed soul , he yielded up his soul to god , as he had done his body to sathan , attested by a kinsman of his own to my authour . o that , if it had been gods will , all examples of justice were accompanied with such sweetnesse and mercy , as to give any hope of the safety of the soule , when the body in the act of sin is destroyed . a knight given to this wicked sin of drunkennesse , did sometimes order pailes of drink into the fields to make people drunk . on a time drinking with company , a certain woman comes in , and giveth him a ring with this posie ; drink and die ; which he accepted of and wore ; and in six dayes died through excesse of drink , justified by a minister dwelling within a mile of the place . two children my authour sayes , he hath known to murther their mother in drink ; and another that attempted to kill his father , of which being frustrated , he set fire of his barn , and afterward came to the gallowes . in broad-street london , many gentlemen drinking healths to their sole lords on whom they depended , one wicked wretch takes up a pottle pot of sack , sweares a deep oath , saying , will none drink a health to my noble lord and master ? and without any more words he begunne himselfe , and drank up the pot full to the bottome , and suddenly fell as if dead , snorting , but not speaking ; he is layd by as one overcome , and covered with cloathes , till they drink as large a proportion , as their insatiate appetites would take in ; when done , expecting their friend should rise , they found him dead indeed . oh sad to go to eternity swearing and drunk ! who would not dread the issue ? at barnwell nigh cambridge , a young man and a woman , with a hundred more in company , met at the sign of the plough , agreeing to drink off a barrell of beer , which they did ; but will not examples of others warn us ? then let 's expect to be monuments to others ; three of them died in twenty four houres , the fourth escaped with great sicknesse , and by the gates of death had life given him , witnessed by a justice of peace of the county near by . two servants of a brewers in ipswich , whilst i was minister there , said my authour , drinking for a rump of a turky , in their drink they strugled for it , and both fell into a scalding caldron , the one died presently , the other in torment and anguish pined away . at a tavern in essex , a constable was threatned by a drunken serving-man , to be forced out of the house by his oathes and curses , if he would not be gone , and in his drink pursuing one of his company to force him to drink off a pint of sack , he fell down stairs , and immediately fell under the stroke of divine vengeance ; oh ! you swearers and cursers , remember these examples of god! let them be examples to you ; will not the wrath of god revealed stand in our way , and encompasse us about with terrour and fear ? oh be not proud of your strength , to devour and engrosse the creatures of god to satisfy your lusts ! it is recorded of a noble-man coming to ipswich to visit his kinsman in that university , that demanded how he profited in his studies , to whom they reply very well , and that amongst one thousand five hundred , he had the garland given him for the ablest drinker . gods judgements will find us sooner or later . in salisbury , one in the midst of his drink began a health to the devill , saying , if he would not pledge him , he would not believe there was either god or devill , his associates being terrified at his words , with fear runne away ; the vintner hearing a hideous noyse , and smelling , and unusual and noysom savour , ran up to the chamber , but his guest was gone , & the windows broken , the iron barres of the windows bended and bloody ; and the poor wretch never more heard of . these are sad instances of gods displeasure , if he would please in mercy to set them home upon some poor sinners . in the year 1551. in bohemia , five drunkards were met together to drink , who seeing a picture painted upon the wall , for the devill , drank healths to him ; the next night they were all found dead with their necks broken , and their bodies crusht in pieces , blood running out of their mouthes , nostrils , ears , &c. in the county of cavan in ireland , a gentleman of castle-terra , was much given to delight in drunken company , wherein healths went down swiftly , and glasses broke against the walls at every health ; by this sin he was so much addicted to wickednesse and impenitency , as his sport was to repeat the ministers sermons in scorn , and derision , especially at one time having heard a sermon upon faith , demanded of the minister if he could remove mountaines , else he would not believe he had faith . this gentleman is by gods hand struck with the small pox , which gets into his throat , in such extremity , that he could not swallow any meat or drink to cool and refresh the violence of his internall heat ; that throat that had been the gutter and channel of many a pounds worth of drink , could not now , in torment like dives , suffer one drop to refresh him . in this sad and bitter conflict , he breaks out into these expressions to an honest man standing by . oh thomas , would i could now receive one of those glasses of drink , which formerly i profusely and profanely have thrown against the walls ! and growing worse and worse , without hopes of life , perceiving no remedy but death for all his soares , he breaks out again in his agony and torment ; oh that now i had but as much faith as a grain of mustard-seed , and so expired the 57. year of his age . i pray , and cordially desire , that such sinners as parallel this example , may not be reacht with the like justice ! many there are in this nation grown up to a height of malice , and rage against gods ministers , and some in this place boyled up to a proportion of envy , ready to break ; the lord break their hearts , and humble their soules , under that two-edged sword of his word , that they may be saved in the day of the lord . a gentleman of quality being drunk , and rising to urine , evacuating that into the fire , that prepared fuell for himself , he fell into the fire , and not being able to rise again , his belly was gathered together like a piece of lether , the chamberlain coming in , helped in , that could not pity or help himself , and though in great torture and pain , through the piercing anguish of gods judgement , yet he called for , and drank off two and twenty double jugs of beer , and so in this sad and lamentable estate , died ; roaring , and crying , that he was damned for breaking his vow of reformation , oh that the lord would work a reformation indeed ! that poor creatures may not thus fall under divine justice , too much to be feared , as well to soul as body . remarkable is the example of that tragical story of two drunkards , who the fourth of july , 1580. at nekershofew in almain , came into an inne , called for bread and wine , and drinking to an infinite excesse ; at last , one of them drinks a health to god , demanding what wine god would pledg him in ? and reaching forth his arm with a cup full sayes , god i know not what wine thou likest best , but this i think is too good for thee , unlesse thou hadst sent better ; but such as it is i give thee , take it , pledge me presently , and carouse it off every drop , as i have done to thee , or thou dost me wrong . here 's a piece of blasphemy , which i am confident the most wretched creature in the world , durst not speak sober ; oh this sad sin ! we little know what the fruits of one drunken hour may produce . this vile wretch , no sooner ended his hellish courtesie , but that just and wise god ( who must be provoked before he will execute his severe judgements ) whom he had blasphemed , pledged him with a witnesse , for he left him as a pledge to the world of his wrath , and displeasure against this sin . his arme which he stretched out , was never able to be pulled in again ; his body stupified as well as his senses , not able to stirre from the place , continuing a long time , in this sad condition , his eyes rolling to and fro in a terrible manner , his breath and speech lost , yet seemed to all alive ; the people flock in droves to see this sad spectacle of fury and vengeance , some offer to remove him , but could not ; horses are tied to him , but could not stir him : they put fire to him , which would not take hold : so perswaded god had set him there as a warning to drunkards , they left him so , and to this day , sayes my author , he stands as a pillar and mark , to bid others avoid the like wickednesse , least they participate of gods wrath , which though it moves a slow pace , will in the end light heavier , in as much as gods patience provoked , turns to the most irresistable punishment . his companion who had escaped the imediate hand of god , fell into the hands of justice also ; for as the other died a terrible , so this a shamefull death , being hanged by the common people before the door of the house where the sin was committed . o that you would consider this , ye that forget god , least he teare you in pieces , and there be none to help ! at one of alexanders great meetings , appointed for his officers and favourits , no lesse died with excesse of drink , than 41. and after many a health , promachus , at the bottom of four gallons of wine found the prize and jewel appointed for the conquerour . another time he ended his own health and life , by drinking a health out of hercules cup , which to effect , 35. drunk their last also . these are direful and pregnant testimonies of gods judgements upon this impious custom of drinking healths . against that good law of the spartans : vt bibat abitrio pocula quisque suo . every man to his own liberty : or that of the goths , where it was death to drink or force a health . it s placed in the records of time , that popelus , second king of poland , doubting the fruits of his male-government to be the peoples deposing him ; by his queens counsel , faines himself sick , sends for twenty of the elective princes out of pomerania , intreating their visit , ( who as well now as at other times ) came , and for their just reward and punishment of their great excesse in drink , and custom of healths , they now drunk their last , without being drunk at all . the king makes a speech , intreates his son may be elected heir to the crown , after his departure , which they promise , if the nobility consented to their resolves ; the queen to seal the bargaine , brings a cup of poisoned liquor , intreating to drink his majesties recovery : they had been so often used to this sinful custom , as it would have seemed ridiculous to refuse it ; but the kings health cost them all theirs , to the utter ruine of the polonian race . but this justice of god upon health-drinkers , ceases not in their deaths ; but after also , for ( to admiring of justice ) from these poisoned bodies , such infinite troopes and swarmes of rats and mice proceed , as pursued the king , queen , and family , from place to place , from land to sea , and from sea to the strong castle of cracovia , where they were forced to flie , and neverthelesse al● arts were used , all opposition made , by guards and garrisons , water-works and fire-works , yet were they eaten up , and destroyed by these rats and mice . the lord i hope will awaken some to see the evil of sin , by that o● punishment . at kesgrave nigh ipswich , three serving-men taking their leave , the woman of the house would needs perswade them to drink wit , money , and her ale out ; but oh ! that this wonderful example of gods judgement upon her , may warn all people , not to suffer , much lesse to provoke , any to this sin under their roofe ; for this woman stands with lots wife , a pillar and statue of gods wrath : she no sooner approaches with the pot in her hand , but was suddenly deprived of her speech ; her tongue ( that smooth oratour of the devil to perswade to sin and wickednesse ) swells in her mouth , and without a word more died . sir anthony felton justice , and others , sayes my author , related it to me , as a thing they were eye-witnesses of : and within these few years , sayes he , upon mine own knowledge , three being drunk nigh huntington , were all undone and destroyed by a water , which passing , they were forced into the stream and drowned ; leaving behind them the remarks of gods righteous judgements . on november 14. 1650. saith a divine of this nation , a company of odious drunkards met at a house , and one coming home was drowned in a shallow ditch , his body not yet buried ; concluding , oh ! those ale-houses the pest of the nation ! another as sad , from a reverend divine also , of the same county , who at my request , gave it me under his hand , which he could have done many others of falling off horseback ; into rivers , &c. but i onely aime at such as are most remarkable , knowing that the sad experience of most places , gives intelligence sufficient of such examples , which indeed are sad enough though the commonnesse take away the sense of them . the example thus . about the year 1621. there dwelt in houghton on the spring , in the county of durham , one christopher hull , a taylor who kept an ale-house in the said town , and at west herrington in the same parish , lived one mr. punshon , a most infamous and notorious drunkard , and every way most wretchedly prophane ; he being a frequent haunter of hulls house , did one day fall out with him , and coming out of the door said , if ever i come within these doors , the devil shall bring me in : some few dayes after , punshon , going up the street of houghton , hull stood at the door , and said to him , will you not come in ? no , said he , for i have sworn the devil , &c. then said hull , i will be the devil for this time ; so taking punshon on his back , carried him in , where they drank one another drunk , and quareling , hull stab'd punshon in the throat , who immediately died : hull was cleared at durham assizes by the favour of his clergy , but soon after died , and , as it s reported , very penitent . in the year 1624. a blacksmith in oxford , being a very frequent drunkard , after he had continued so some dayes together , did in a desperate manner , cut his own throat , yet lived some dayes , during which time , some schollars and others , came to visit him ; he often thrust his hand into the wound , and pulling out handfuls of blood , did spread it before the company , crying out , see here gentlemen the fruits of drunkennesse . this was affirmed by a gentleman of the county of durham , who saw and heard it . in the year 1649. james fairburne , in the town of mellerston , nigh the river tweed , died in a most miserable , and roaring condition , through excesse of drink . on easter monday , 1656. one tho. foster , carrier of carlisle , being drunk , rode out of town , and had not rode above a quarter of a mile from the town , but in the very high road , fell off his horse , and in a water , not above a quarter of a yard deep , he miserably perished . in the year 1651. james bouch of cockermouth , being a most notorious drunkard and swearer , being drunk at rosley faire , did quarrel with two troopers , who there killed him , as a judgement of god upon his former and present drunkennesse and swearing . robert copeland , a butcher in carlisle , being a common drunkard , and prophaner of gods name , by cursed oathes , being drunk , did in the year 1651. break his neck in a stable hard by the castle . 1632. john emerston of dalston , in cumberland , was a very notorious drunkard for many years , and one time in an ale-house , died suddenly with a cup of drink in his hand . in the year 1656. one mr. herridge , who formerly was a linnen-draper in colchester , now living in this place , being too often found in the sin of drunkennesse , was at last overtaken with justice ; for coming on horseback from sunderland , full of drink , he fell off his horse ; and there died , without speaking one word . god will be glorified in his judgements , where mercy and patience will not perswade and allure . anno 1654. one john coultred of orton parish nigh carlisle , coming drunk out of an ale-house from thursby , fell from his horse , not far from the ale-house , and died immediately . 1650. vvilliam howe , who kept an ale-house in carlisle , one time was drunk with two of his guests that were borderers , and going to convey them over the bridge , did all three fall into the river caud ; the two guests were drowned , howe escaped by means of some bushes , and was taken up alive : which may be as a warning to such as keep drink , to beware of other mens blood ; i would be loath to be so guilty , though i might escape with my life : it s a sad thing to be a means of any mans outward ruine , but to have a hand in mens dying in their sins , it s much more to be accounted for . these are sad examples of gods severity and justice , who can stand before a consuming fire ? when once his anger is but a little kindled , blessed are all they that trust in him . our judges find in their circuit , few that are arraigned , which are not brought to it by this sin , like slaves to the judgement-seat ; and are sent quick , from their sins to judgement , forcing charity it self to censure their eternal estates ; the eccho of whose sins , resounds in their punishments with vengeance from heaven . were i to prescribe prophilacticks , i would intreat thee to blesse thy self from this sin : none knows whither the wind of a distempered brain will hurry thee , or whither this spirit of bacchus will drive thee : if once thou put thy foot into the stirrup to mount his saddle , when thou art up , thou must needs run when the devil drives thee . play not with healths ; if thou lovest thy own , drink not other mens : flie evil society ; they are the devils trapanners : be afraid with the fuller in the fable , who for fear of infection , durst not entertain the collier , lest he should make that black , which he made white . be in this like the river danube , that will not mixe it self with the muddy streams of sava . evil fruit grows in bad company ; they have no autumn : wickednesse withers not ; the mischiefs attending them are like the spanish indies , which the ambassadour told the venetian , had no bottom . ephes. 5.16 . be not drunk with wine wherein is excesse . of blaspheming the name of god , by cursed oathes . with the judgements of god upon ●vrsers & swearers . of blaspheming the name of god , by cursed oathes : with the judgements of god upon cvrsers & swearers . this cursed and crying sin of taking the lords name in vain by wicked oathes , hath like the river nile , so overflowed the banks of authority , that many who should restrain the fury and rage of so horrid an impiety , are too sadly guilty of it . this sin , to the sad experience of this nation , doth swarm in all corners of it ; a man can hardly negotiate in the world , unlesse he resolve it no sin to hear the holy name of god , that god that made us , blasphemed by all sorts of people ; amongst poor people its common , and for gentlemen its sadly accounted generous and valorous . that it is a sin against god , i hope so few doubt it , as i may be spared to prove it ; the most forcible argument against it , lieth open in the possitive command of god almighty , which made heaven and earth . thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vain ; and the reason is a terrible one , by way of threatning ; for the lord will not hold him guiltlesse : which commandment is seconded by christ in his sermon upon the mount ; swear not at all , neither by heaven nor earth , marg but let your yea be yea , and your nay nay . the aggravations of this sin are great , if parallel'd with the little reason for it , or profit by it : it must needs be a horrid sin that can propound nothing as the object , but god himself : we may in this sin confesse with david , against thee onely have i sinned , and done wickedly . all the creatures he hath made bow to him , and to the remembrance of him : shall that mouth that sucks breath from god that made and daily preserveth thee , breath out oathes and curses against him ? oh impiety in the greatest dimensions ! wickednesse with an emphasis ! would not such ingratitude look odious in vulgar friendship ? to sit at thy friends table , and there receive daily food at his care and cost for thee , and for thee to make him the subject of thy malice and rage , and that to manifest it against his good name ; is not this ● say , monstrous ingratitude ? would not this swell provocation to the greatest latitude of revenge ? is not the lords name as the apple of his ●e ? a thing he is jealous of : if ●alousie be the rage of a man , which he ●ill not spare in the day of venge●●ce , nor wil regard any ransom ; what ●nst thou expect from the eternal ●od , with whom is terrible majesty ? it must be presumed , thou knowest ● to be a sin ; how inexcusable then ●st it be unto thee , whose consci●●ce is convinced thereof ? it is a ● therefore with the full consent of ● will , and for want of due care over thy heart and lips . oh man , what is it can provoke thee , unlesse the height of a reprobate mind by blaspheming the blessed name of god! how canst thou expect that blood to expiate thy sins , and to wash away thy iniquities , that hath so often spit his blood and wounds out of thy mouth ? i think i should not be guilty of over-rash censure , if i say to such as are given up to this horrid impiety ; that it s but as an earnest of that cursed condition in torment , and that the devil teaches thee in this world , that thou mayest be the more ready to blaspheme god in the world to come ; else what can be the meaning of mens giving up themselves to this wickednesse ? considering the little profit got by it , a fa● advantage god knowes ! no more than to rob out of sport , not need● and be punished for it . what profit have you of those things wherein one day you shall be ashamed ? is it because god forbids , that we will swear like that man of venice , who for nine years , never stept out of the city , b● when on occasion he was commanded upon forfeiture of his life not to sti● then he was seen abroad : much like that of the apostle , sin took occasion by the commandment . how canst thou call on the name of that god in the time of calamity and distresse , which thou hast so often cursed and blasphemed ? he that will mention the name of god , must depart from iniquity . shall i , saith polycarpus , that have served god to such an old age , prophane his sacred and blessed name , that so lovingly hath preserved my life unto this day ? and being urged by the proconsul to save his life , onely replyed , know i am a christian . it is indeed a sin that makes men lesse believed . a heathen could say , he was unwise that put trust in the words of a common swearer . and another philosopher sayes , virtue is never in that heart , which breaths out curses and oathes . he is accounted by all sober men , to be a prophane , wicked , and ungodly man , and its the greatest height of prophannesse that can be ; it s the onely sin and practise of devils in hell , to curse , swear , and blaspheme god . the godly have this character given them , that they fear an oath ; but the wicked are not afraid of a world of oathes . the common excuse of this sin is the custom of it , which is so slender , that it strengthens it , and indeed aggravates it ; for custom in sin by degrees hardens the heart from the fear of god . this sin indeed is hatcht in the bowels of passion , which boiling to a height , vomiteth up all the corrupt filth and scum of the soul , casting it in the face of god . beware therefore of passion , which through the depravednesse of our natures make us like mad dogs , that run at every thing in their way , they bark at the moon : to see a man rage against god because his neighbour hurteth him , is a perfect madnesse in reason . strive against the custom of this sin , thou wilt lose thy senses else , and the sense of it , which is the height of sin ; its gods giving up a soul to sin , when it loses the sense that it is a sin . beware of little ones , they are the spawn of greater , faith and troth , are the livery of gods wounds and blood , and god damn thee . we damn our souls by this sin at a low rate , if we consider the little , either pleasure or profit of it . avoid evil society , cursers , and swearers , are not to be associated with , lest partaking of their sin , thou taste of their punishment . if a master of a family ; or school-master ; destroy it there , nip it in the bud , and resolve with david , that none such shall be under thy roof . i conclude with psal. 25. let them be confounded that sin without a cause . if reason prevail not , remember the penalties of the lawes , which though severe at this day , yet short both in the greatnesse and execution of former times . philip king of france , made a law ; that whosoever blasphemously swore should be drowned : and max. the emperour ; that every vain swearer should pay 13 shillings 4 pence , or if he refused , to be executed . in hen. the fifth's time , a law was made against prophane and vaine swearing ; the forfeiture for a duke 40 shillings , a barron 20 shillings , a knight or esquire 10 shilling , a yeoman 3 shillings 4 pence , and a servant , to be whipt ; and this law was so well executed , that all the nation over , very few were heard to swear an oath . these were times of lesse light , than we pretend unto , yet a spirit of reformation for god , was much more above our age we live in . if still we will not forbear , see gods threatnings against this sin . in the law stoning to death was the lowest punishment : bring him forth , that all the people may stone him . in that black and forlorne band of sinners , the swearer leads the van , which together with other sins , maketh blood to touch blood , and the land to mourn . in zachariah 5.3 . the thief and the swearer are linked together , against whom the flying roll , with the curse of god is threatned to the consumeing of their house , timber , posts , and stones . as he clothed himself with cursing , marg saith the psalmist ; so let it come into his bowels like water , and like oyle into his bones . there is nothing more usual and certain , then for the arrows of this cursed quiver , to reverberate and fly back upon a mans own face . god will be a swift witnesse against such as dishonour his holy name by profane swearing . now those that will not be warned by the nature of this sin , nor danger to soule and body , nor be diverted from it by gods threatnings ; let such harken to his just judgements in these following examples , which are not only as a cloud of witnesses against profanenesse , hut also stand as a pillar of salt to warn thee from disobedience , and wilfull running in a carreer , of sin to thy eternal ruine . earl goodwin having slain alfred , wished at the kings table , if it were so , that the bread he was eating might choak him , which god in justice suffered , ere he stirred . a fisherman ( known to the authour ) coming with a boat of mackarell to a town in suffolke , and being the first that came that year , the people pressed hard to be first served ; one steps into his boat , he presently taketh up a stone , swearing by god he would make them stand farther off ; which was no sooner said , but he fell down and died presently : how many have i heard swear by god as commonly as speak ? oh take heed of gods judgement ! consider what a mercy it is to thy soul , that thou art not thus judged . a gentleman in edward the sixths time riding with other gentlemen , being reproved for swearing , opened his mouth wider , and raged worse and worse ; mr , haines minister , tells him mildly the danger of it , and that at the great day an account must be rendred ; he with solomons fool refuses instruction , bids him prepare , and take care for his own estate . mr. h. replies , repent and amend , for death is as sure as uncertain . but raging and roaring with cursed oathes , he sayes ; gods wounds , take no care for me ; and and coming to a bridge , his horse leapt over with him ; who like an impenitent wretch ended his dayes . as he had lived , crying , horse , and man , and all to the devill . in lincolnshire , there lived a servingman , who was so accustomed to sweare , as at every small occasion he used gods blood in his mouth , his friends mildly warne him from the evill of those wayes , lest vengeance follow at the heels of his impiety ; but he takes no notice of friendly admonition , being visited by the hand of god , his friends again advise him to repent of his wickednesse , but god intended not that affliction to have so sanctifying a vertue in it , as to soften his obdurate heart ; who by his accustomed oathes had forfeited the patience and long-suffering of god , and turned his mercy into fury ; he grows worse , and nigher to the chambers of death ; and hearing the bell toll for him , starts up ; and under the pains and violence of death , cryes , gods wounds the bell tolls for me , but he shall not have me yet . suddenly the blood from his nose , mouth , wrists , knees , and all the joynts of his body flowes out in abundance , that he became a spectacle of gods wrath , and died . o the dreadfulnesse of gods judgements . there was a man in germany so much accustomed to use the devill in his mouth ; that if he did but stumble , the devill was uppermost ; he was often reprehended for it , to no purpose , except to make his sin the lesse excusable ; which he continuing in , coming to a bridge , stumbled and fell down ; saying , hoyst up with a hundred devils , instantly the devill appears , and carried him quite away , that he was never heard of after . one who was given much to cursing & ●wearing , being on his death-bed , most wickedly desired those that stood by , to help him with oathes : and to swear for him and himself , swearing so fast , as one would think there was little need of any other then himself in the world , that could so quickly find out a way for to blaspheme god , and damn his own soul . in the city of savoy , there lived one , who after much exhortation and reproof , hardened his neek against all admonition ; the plague breaking out light upon him , he with his family retires to a garden , the words of reproof by the mouth of gods ministers follow him , that if possible the plague of his heart might not at the same instance , together with gods outward hand , contribute to the eternal ruine of his soul , with that of his body , but all in vain ; as good turn the course of the sun , as his soul accustomed to sin , at last swearing and cursing , with the devill in his mouth , the devill suddenly hurries him away into the ayre , in sight of his wife and kinswoman , who saw the devil flying with him over their heads ; his cap fell off his head , and was found at kosne , but himselfe was never heard of to this day . the magistrate at the noyse of this exemplary piece of gods just judgement , repaires to the witnesses of it , who testify , with a sad relation ; their woful experience , no lesse horrid then true . three souldiers travelling through a wood in the coutrey of samurtia , a tempest of thunder and lightening arose , one of them breaks into his usual oathes , and in the instant of swearing , the violence of the wind ( no doubt directed by god ) throwes a tree upon him , whereof he presently was crushed to pieces . another that was very much habituated to swear by gods armes , had his own arm hurt with a knife , and could find no remedy , but it festered daily , till it rotted and mouldred away gradually , and he through anguish and torment died , and one michael a jewish rabbin , as he was swearing by the name of jesus , fell down and broke his neck . a boy at tubing in germany , invented strange and unusual oathes , but god sent a canker , that eat out his tongue ; these are signal tokens of gods anger ; they are so immediate from himself , that none can see lesse then a wonderful hatred in god of them . at benevides , a village in spain , a whirlwind arose ; two young men being in a field , apprehending the approaching danger , fall down upon the ground , lest the violence of it might carry them into the ayre ; when it was past , the one arises in great amazement ; the other being a very notorious curser , and swearer , lyes dead ; his bones so crusht , that his joynts turned every way , his tongue rooted out , and could not be found . in june 1649. a souldier at warre , goeth with others to wash in a shallow river , asked whether there was a deeper to swim in , and they answered there was one nigh hand , but dangerous , by reason it was a deep pit , who replies , god damne me , if it be as deep as hell i will in ; he was no sooner in , but sunk to the bottom , and never rose again ; which , sayes mr. clark , was attested by good witnesses . and god met with that swearer and curser in france , a citizen of paris , whom lewis 9. ordered to have his lips seared together with a hot iron , saying ; i would to god that with sear●ng my own lips , with a hot iron , i could ●anish out of my realm all abuse of ●athes ! a souldier falling sick in his jour●ey through marchia , in almain , stay●d in his inne ; and when recovered , ●emanded of his landlady the mony ●e gave her to secure for him , but con●ulting with her husband ; resolved ●ot to confesse any ; so denied it : the ●ontroversie arose to a contention , till the landlord interposed , and justifi●d his wife , and thrust him out of his ●ouse ; the souldier drawes , and ●rusting at the door , the landlord ●ries , theeves ! the souldier is impri●oned , and ready for judgement : the ●ay of pronunciation of death , the devil ●●ters into prison , tells him , he is con●emned , but if he will resign up soul and ●●dy to him , he would free him ; he like a ●hristian , repells those fiery darts ●ith a strong denial ; which the de●●ll seeing , perswades him when called ● the bar , to intreat the judge to ●●ant him the man in a blew cap to ●ead his cause , for he was , ( and that ● was ) innocent of the crime brought ●●ainst him . the poor souldier being arraigned , had this blew-cap't attourney allowed him for his advocate , who affirmed this poor man to be much abused , relating all the circumstances of the money , with the place where it was laid , the landlord denied all with an imprecation , wishing the devill might take him , if it were true ! the devill looking for this advantage , took this poor man , and carried him up into the ayre ; who was never more heard of : oh that the lord would open some mens eyes to see gods mercy to them , that though they have often been guilty , yet god in mercy spared them ! tremble at the justice of god , and let these warning● be so to us . a certain priest in ruthnerwall wished if luthers doctrine were true a thunderbolt might destroy him ! a●ter three dayes a tempest , with lightning and thunder , so terrified him that he run to church , and at his devotion was struck down ; who recovering , and led homewards , a flash o● lightening burnt him to death , a● black as hell it self . one in france , of some knowledge and profession in religion , in passion wisht the devill to take one of his children ! the child immediately was possessed , and , though the prayers of the church prevailed with god for the release from this evill spirit , yet , dyed of it . a man in anger , wishing his wife to the devil ! she was forthwith possessed , and never recovered it . a young courtier at mansfield , whose customary asseveration was , the devill take me . the devill when he was asleep , took him indeed , and threw him out of a window , where though he was not slain , yet he learnt to curb that unruly member of the tongue , by escaping the danger of a severer punishment . at a horse-race , where divers noble-men were present , some cries , the devill take the last , which happened ●o be a horse that broke loose , which the devill carriad away , and was never seen more . these examples may ●artle us , and not only to warn us , ●ut also as a lanthorn of the lord to direct our feet from these paths of sin ●nd ruine . at s. gallus in helvetia 1556. a man that made foul linnen clean , and coming out of a tavern drunk , wished the devill to take him if ever he followed his trade more ! next day being sober , he regards not his oaths , the devill appears to him in the likenesse of a tall man , and told him of his promise , presently smiting him upon the shoulders , so that his feet and hands presently were dryed up , and he trembling with horror ; yet god gave the devill no farther power , that it might be an example both to himself and others . relates of a taylor , that whilst the fleet was engaged in fight with a portugal galleass , he cometh running out of the cabbin with his goose in his hand , swearing , he would never follow his trade more , throwing the goose into the canon mouth ; suddenly came a bullet from the enemy , and shot him to pieces . henry earl of schwartburg , by frequent and wicked wishes , was at last answered in his own coyn , for at every common occasion , he desired he might be drowned in a privy , if such a thing were not so or so ! which god in justice answered ; for he died that filthy death . a very remarkable story is recorded of a woman in the dutchy megalopole , at a village called oster , who gave her selfe to the devill by her frequent cursings , and wicked oathes ; and at a wedding she was publickly reproved , and dehorted from her sins ; but taking no warning , the devill , when they were all merry , came in person , and with horrid cries and roarings , mounted her into the ayre , before the face of all the company , and hovering over the town , the people that saw it were extremely perplexed with fear ; she is torn into four parts , which are let fall into as many high wayes ; as directions to avoyd the road to hell . the devill returns to the feast , and before the mayor , and all the company , threw her intralls upon the table , saying . behold these dishes of meat belong to thee , whom the like destruction ●wayteth , if thou dost not amend thy wicked life . this is testified by mr. herman minister of oster ; the mayor and all the town ; who desired it to ●e communicated to posterity for an example , and land-mark to avoyd eternall destruction . a gentleman of gorlitz , having invited many friends to supper , who failed him ; in a rage , wished , that all the devils in hell would come : presently his table is furnished as well with guests as meat , whom he welcomed , but perceiving clawes instead of hands , it was not time to bid him be gone ; his wife follows him , leaving in the house onely a child and a fool , by the fire side , who through mercy were not hurt . we are by these , bid to beware of rash imprecations to our selves or others . it s fresh , the story of hacket o●oundle in northamptonshire , who ( 159● in the raign of queen eliz. the 3● year ) in his common discourse use● to say : if it be not true , then let a v●sible confusion come upon me : and h● had his desire ; for being delivered u● of god to sathan , he fell foul off ● many errours , that at last he arrive● to the height , and called himself christ : with himself he seduced to gent. coppinger , and arthington , w● believed all hacket said ; and wh● he bid them proclaim , that christ u● come with his fan in his hand , to ju●● the earth ; they did , through 〈◊〉 city ; and in cheapside , got upon two carts , crying repent , repent ! for christ jesus is come to judge the vvorld ; they affirmed also , that hacket presented christ , by taking his glorified body , &c. hacket hereupon is apprehended , brought before the lord mayor of london , and at last , hanged on a gibbet in cheapside , uttering to the last horrid blasphemies against god . this was a visible confusion indeed . before mr. luther and others : a woman at vveteburg , whose daughter was possessed , did confesse ; that she in fury wished the devil to take her ! who instantly possessed her , with an evil spirit , to their great terrour and fear . john peter , son to the cruel keeper of new-gate london , was a horrid swearer and curser , usually saying , if it be not so , i pray god i may rot ere i die ? and so he did with great misery . in misina , sep. 11. 1552. a child not quick enough to dispatch his fathers will as he ought , provoked the fathers rage into this imprecation ; that he might never stir from that place ! its presently granted , his son sticks immoveable , for his body could not be moved or bent : some godly people meet and pray for him , whereby his anguish is asswaged : yet he continued three years standing with a post at his back ; and four years he continued sitting , and then ended his life ; yet this was a mercy to him , for that he doubted not of the mercy of jesus christ to save him : and being demanded how he did ? frequently replyed : that he was there fastened of god , and his mercy onely could release him . here was a living example of rash oathes . at neoburg in germany , a cursed mother , wishing she might never see her son alive again , was answered ; for the child was drowned the same day . in astorga , a woman cursed her son , wishing the devils of hell to take him from her presence ! with many horrible execrations : it being late at night , the child was afraid of her anger , retiring to a little court behind the house , to whom appeared men of grim aspects , and large composures , who carried him into the aire with such swiftnesse , as was not possible to believe , and alighting amongest some bushes , trailed him , to the great torturing of his body , and tearing of sundry parts thereof . the boyes thoughts being better fixt than his mothers , craved aid of god , and so was delivered . the devils bringing him back through the aire , put him in at a little window in a chamber , and there he was found almost out of his wits , and sadly tortured and mangled , in his face , hands , legs , &c. that penitent gentleman , sir gervise ellowis , being drawn in to be a partaker in the sad death of that poor gent. sir tho. overbury , in the tower ; was at last brought as a sufferer to tower-hill , acknowledging the just hand of god against his rash and unpreserved vow , which a great losse at cards one time occasioned ; in the sense whereof , clapping his hands upon his breast , he vowed seriously betwixt god and his own soul ; that if ever he played again , he wished he were hanged ! and being upon the ladder , now , sayes he , god in justice hath made me keep my imprecation , and paid my vow , by this just , though violent , death ; and so wished all to take warning by his sad example ! mr. young reports of nichanor , who for his blasphemous cursing and swearing , had his tongue cut out , and in small pieces thrown to the fowls . a young couple in love together , solemnize their private promises alone , the maid being rich , and the young man poor , she to assure him of her love , promises that unlikenesse of fortunes shall not disoblige her engagements , nor disinherit her of that loyalty which she hoped grace as well as good nature , had planted in her ; which he , though before earnestly fearful , that she might be as changeable as others ; did now neverthelesse content himself in the strength of this assurance , and so at the giving their faith one to another , she with many more imprecations tied her self most strongly with this , that the devil would take her away that day she married to another . she marries another , and on the wedding-day two guests uninvited , come well mounted to the door , and dine with them , and were made welcome ; after dinner , one of them complements the bride , and borrows her hand to lead the dance , and after a turn or two , lead a dance which none could follow ; for in presence of all her friends , he carries her out of doors , and notwithstanding her crying for help , she is mounted into the aire , and with his companion and horses , was never seen more . see the fruits of rash vows , oathes , and imprecations , they are not to be slightly dealt withal ; for god takes notice of our own desires , when we never think of our words , how we must give an account of them . two prophane young men striving who should be most exquisite in oathes , were met with by gods judgement in justice ; for he that out-vied the other in swearing was immediately distracted . also he relateth of two young men , delighting themselves in swearing ; sporting with oathes , as the flie with the flame , are overtaken with gods judgement , the one is struck dumb , and never spake word more , the other was distracted : both of them standing to the example of all young men , that do not remember their creator in the dayes of their youth , unlesse by blaspheming and cursing it . a noble person of the city of eflinghen , at a losse by gaming , began to swear and curse bitterly , in which rage and madnesse , he mounts his horse for home , the devil meets him , pulls him off , who with his servants was misguided all the night by evil spirits ; and in the morning finding themselves not lost , they get their master safe to bethen-hansen , where in great torment for three dayes , he yeilded justice victor . a woman in marchia , being a prophane curser and swearer , was justly left by god to sathan ; for in sight of many people she is snatched into the air , and thrown down again , which brake her neck . god we see can break us from our sins and lives together , if we do not from the first , break off by repentance . one margret vvood , of allercleugh , in the parish of stanhop , in the county of durham , was notoriously known for many years , upon every slight occasion , to use this imprecation , i wish i may sink into the earth . upon the last day of august 1655. she with one elinor mason of the same parish , being both washing of lead oare , to fit it for the lead-mill , and standing upon the same spot of ground , where many horses laden with lead had passed the immediate day before ; the earth suddenly failed under them , and swallowed them both up ; next day , when their dead bodies were digged out , elinor mason was found with her body erect , but margeret vvood was many yards deeper within ground , and her head direct downwards . one elinor short , of the same parish , did frequently use this imprecation ; i wish my feet may rot off , if this or that be not so or so : it pleased the just god about 20 years ago , to visit her with a pain in her feet , which by degrees did rot quite off , as afterwards did her legs also ; and she is yet alive at this day , as a monument of gods signal judgement : she creepes upon her hands and thighs , and doth often acknowledge gods just dealing with her . robert durance , butcher in carlisle , was a known swearer and drunkard , who about 30 years ago , being playing at cards with some of his companions , and having lost all his money , except 30 s began fearfully to swear he would be revenged upon himselfe , whereupon he run out at the gates of the city towards the river eden , and though he was followed by divers , some on horse-back , yet did he destroy himself by leaping into the river ; in which river , hard by the place where he leapt in , he lay for the space of four years ; at the end of which , a fisherman found the lower parts of his body , only the other parts being consumed . william knot of dalston in cumberland being a common swearer , when he was a servant to alderman grey of york , he fell into a lead full of boyling liquor , by which means in ten days he dyed . john prestman of weighton in cumberland , a sheriffes bayliffe , being accounted a common swearer , one night when he was drunk at carlisle , went out in the night ; and notwithstanding the perswasion of his landlord , leapt over the bridge with his horse , and was drowned in the river caude . one hudson of dalston in cumberland , did wager with another man , who should swear more oathes by god ; the other man was by the just judgment of god struck dead ere he parted , & hudston was struck dumb to his dying day ; and though he lived many years after , yet could speak nothing , but swear by god , which he did upon every occasion . oh the justice of god to some , and the patience and forbearance to others , waiting to be gracious : let such as swear by the name of god , look upon this example , this sad example . on may eve , 1634. one troe of gloce●ter a carpenter , in the parish of st. michael , being demanded by some , whether he would go with them and fetch the may-pole , swore by the lords wounds he would go , though he never went more . but mark the justice of god ; on may day morning , as he was working on the may-pole , before it was finished , he was by a divine stroke of justice smote with such a lamenesse , and swelling in all his limbs , that he could neither goe , nor lift his hand to his mouth , to feed himselfe , but was forced to keep his bed for half a year together , and to this day goeth lame , may 4. 1636. of the sabbath day , with gods judgements upon the profaners thereof . of the sabbath day , with gods judgements upon the profaners thereof . i am now to treat with the sabbath-breaker , who for many reasons will appear to be lesse excusable before god for this sin , then either the drunkard or swearer . here is a double sin , profaneing it and neglecting that which is ordained by god for the eternall good of our soul ; besides , it is a premeditated act , and goes along with a great aggravation , as we shall see in a word presently . it is now become so great a custome to prophane the lords day , that he almost becomes a scoffe to others , that offers to reform or punish it ; and that men may not so much slight it , i have collected a few reasons to perswade men to observe it , and disswade from the profanation of it , for god will not be mocked . that we may know this day is no mock-day , the lord that made heaven and earth , that great jehovah stiles himself lord of the sabbath ; and the lord hath in a more speciall manner singled out this commandement with a memento . remember , by no meanes forget the sabbath , for the lord rested that day , and he blessed the sabbath day , and hallowed it . it 's a great consideration to make us weigh the duty of keeping it , for six dayes the lord made heaven and earth , and when the seventh day came , he rested on it . the lord , as it were , hasted to finish the world in six dayes , that he might himself be an example to lead us to the understanding of the great weight which god himself put upon this day , and that we may see it is no ordinary nor common thing to break this day , see how strictly god in his holy word commands it . this is that which the lord hath said , to morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the lord , six dayes may work be done , but the seventh is the sabbath of rest , holy to the lord ; he that works shall be put to death ; that soul shall be cut off from amongst the people , it shall be observed throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant . the lord threatens sore judgements , and why . because they have hid their eyes from my sabbaths , and i am prophaned amongst them ! blessed is the man that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it ; it 's called by the prophet the holy of the lord , honourable ; there might be many more places quoted , but these few are enough to let people see that it is not a trifling matter to profane the day , and that we ought to give all diligence and respect to this day , as a day greatly valued , prised , and esteemed of by god himself . anno 1647. there was a deplorable accident , a tremendous instance of the justice of god upon a person , a ●armer in a village called little-●allerton in the county of northumberland , about six miles distant from new-castle . the relation is thus . the minister teaching upon that scripture , 1 epist. pet. 2. cap. 2. latter part ; who hath called you out of darknesse , into his marvellous light , and in the fore-noon sermon insisting upon the spiritual darknesse and blindnesse of unregenerate men , and aggravating the many evills attending upon that condition in this life , and asserting the wofull condition , period state , and conditon of such as should die in that estate of spiritual darknesse ; how that to such is resreve● the blacknesse of darknesse , which was occasionally improved to discove● the miserable condition of the damned in hell , by reason of their separation from god , called utter darknesse . mat. 22.13 . and 8.42 & 25 . 1● at the ending of the first sermon this miserable man accompanied others of his neighbours to the al● house for refreshment : the time of r●paire to the second sermon bein● come , some of them moved him to return with them , to whom he replye● that the minister was preaching upo● darknesse , and he would not hear hi● till he should treat upon the light ; and so continued drinking in the alehouse with some other profane souldiers , and by having immoderately taken ale and hot waters , was in the height of his drunkennesse , carried to bed in the ale-house , where after a short time , he ended his miserable life , dying in the very act of sin , without any visible act of repentance . this relation is inserted verbatim , as i have it from a godly minister of the gospel , in the same county , and not farre from the same place , and is indeed a sad example of gods judgement ; not only against the sin of profaning the lords day , but also of drunkennesse , and contempt of the gospel . now because i observe this day so greatly neglected by the generality of the nation , not onely neglecting to hear the word preached , which is able to save their soules , but also violating of it by profanation ; give me a word , and that only to such as professe the observance of it as lawfull ; for if such a slighting of this day grow , we shall from it , run to atheisme , by contempt of gods holy ordinances , and commandments . let us first consider the end of god in the sabbath , which is chiefly for sanctification of his name ; and what creature dare say he is not strictly tyed by all the obligations expressable ; it is a day of liberty , not of bondage , god can be sanctified without us ; he shineth not with borrowed lights , these tapers that burne from mortall breach , can adde no glory to god , but as in his great mercy and condescention , he is pleased to accept of us . then the intent of this day as to our advantages , it 's for the eternall good of our soules , that the lord may by this occasion reach our slow understanding , and with his word preached , that he may dwell with the humble & and contrite spirit . we are not only to avoyd profaning it , by not working , drinking , playing , idlenesse , travelling , &c but we ought to frequent the publick worship of god in the assemblies of his people , and there to hear his word with godly reverence and fear . the reasonablenesse of one day in seven for god and our own souls , may convince us in a great measure of this day , & that is a sin less excusable that 's so reasonable , & that we may have the lesse to say for our excuse , he gives us 6 for our outward affairs , oh then who can grudge the 7th ! especially when god links in our immortal happinesse together with his own glory . it was the custom of christians in trajan the emperours time , to meet on the lords day morning , sing a psalm , receive the sacrament , and covenant to flie sin on that day : and when christians were summoned before the heathen governours , and demanded ; dost thou believe the lords day ? the answer was , i am a christian . take away the sabbath , sayes a reverend divine , and religion will soon wither and decay . the indians might as well have been chosen the subjects of this profitable obedience , and we in their conditions , keeping , instead of a sabbath to god , every day to the devil . it will be more tollerable , i am afraid , for them at that great day , than for us . if we had been left to our own choice , what squarer division of time could have been thought upon , than one day for our souls , and another for our bodies , one for the world , another for heaven ? this had been the reasonable rule of proportion ; it s more grace than reason , that god should desire but one day in seven , and that day also to be for our eternal good . oh how inexcusable will it be for us that prophane it , or neglect the advantages of it ! is refraining from labour a toil to us ? is to be eased of sin a burden ? lord then let me be burdened ? for lord , thy yoke is easie , and thy burden is light . what is a more unspeakable mercy , than for souls to have communion with god , as well as our own hearts ? and , as divines say , glory is but grace perfected : so that eternal sabbath of rest , is but , as i may say , this perfected . this sin is accompanied with many aggravations , and this is none of the least , that we have a will given us to refuse to prophane it ; besides its a deliberate act of the mind , it s not sudden , as an oath , or murder ; but in the very act it self , thou canst not but know thou art sinning against the light of thy conscience : it s the greatest sin , that is accompanied with time to consider , an enlightened mind to understand the evil : to purpose to evil , is an aggravation as high as the sin . if aggravations face not this sin with a dreadful countenance , consider , and in reason think ; is it not just with god to suffer thy frail composure of corruption to shrink under his heavy judgements ? that at night gods protection should leave us , as in our graves , when we are in our beds ? or canst thou expect any blessing upon thy outward estate , when it is in the power of god to dispose of life , being , health , estate , and all ? is it not just ; if we travel on this day , that god should judge us with sudden death in the like severity , as he hath made others examples of to all ages ? yet if god do suffer thy corn , wine , and oil , to encrease , fear a curse under the strawberry leaves of thy enjoyments ; for a blessing is not the shadow of sin , it will not follow thee in the wayes of wickednesse ; rather fear some judgement will overtake thy swift motion to impiety . a word to two sorts . first those that prophane it , contemning not onely gods lawes , but the lawes of the nation ; know that what is lawful on other dayes , are sins on this day ; and such of you as need not ( by gods blessings in a full estate ) toil all the week , whereby you cannot plead a wearinesse to waite on god upon his own day , you turn his blessings into a curse , if you prophane it : you play all the six dayes , it s a sin with a witnesse if you play away the seventh also . you that cannot close this holy day without an evening sacrifice to bacchus , instead of prayers to the lord that made heaven and earth , gods judgements sleep not , you are preparing your selves as fuell for the fire of gods vengeance and displeasure . nextly , to you that sit idly at home , never dreaming how to escape that wrath to come ; methinks i read your sad conditions in your conversations ; that never think of god all the week ; you cannot for your callings , you will not for your pleasures on the lords day : if there be any difference betwixt you and heathens , it is , that you know your condemnation before it come : you will be at the great day , witnesses for god against your selves . to see so many idly sit at home , and never mind to hear the word , methinks i am amongst the indians ; it s a very heavy thing to consider in some places , half the parish at home in idlenesse , or walking abroad in sermon-time ; nay , i have heard it credibly affirmed from the mouth of a minister in this county , that of some thousands in a parish , there hath not been , sometimes , a hundred at a sermon , nay , not fifty , nay not twenty , shall i say not ten ? is not this a sad case to be in a christian common-wealth ? nay it s the sad experience of this place where i live , and i may speak it to my own knowledge , that three quarters of the people able to come , of this populous place , do idly stay at home , or walk abroad , not a family of ten , but the most of them are at home in idlenesse , if not at play or drinking . upon this account i would conclude with one word ; good people , let me perswade you to serve god , rather than gratifie the devil with your own damnation : is your labour lesse to sit at home , than in the congregation ? do you think you have no souls to save , nor to lose ? you had better be working than idle , for that is a sin in it self , and is made greater on this day . you live more like the brute beasts that are fed by the senses onely . how can you be saved if you will not come unto him that you may have life ? are you christians or infidels ? do you professe to worship god , or mahomet ? how shall you believe on him of whom you have not heard ? how can you hear without a preacher ? not to hear that blessed gospel which christ hath sent into our coasts , our houses , is to do as the gadereans did , drive christ from our habitations . such as followed christ and his apostles , were converted , i read of few else ; and such onely as lay at the pool , were healed : to see people flocking to hear the word , like doves to the windows , it is a blessed sight ; but instead hereof , we have some that entertain quakers meetings in their houses on the lords day ; they have a sad account to give . i hear some excusing their staying at home sometimes , by their going other times ; these are common excuses : but thou knowest not but that day thou stayest from the ministery of the word , god may have intended thy eternal salvation , and that with zacheus , god might have said , this day salvation is come into thy house . but i read good books ; that thou mayest do when thou canst not hear good sermons : and though it be good to read , yet here its a sin , and a temptation , because thou neglect'sta greater good . the word stirs the soul under it , and commonly cometh with power and demonstration of the spirit ; and i know ther 's great difference between hearing and reading ; and the later is no lesse an evil thus used , than the ejection of different thoughts in prayer from the subject and nature of the duty , is an evil by consequence . but i do no body hurt , i am not playing , nor drinking , nor swearing , so that i need not fear gods judgements : what judgement dost thou think a hard heart is , which commonly is the fruit of the neglect of gods ordinances ? is it not the worst of judgements ? for thou mayst be destroyed with bodily punishment , as eli and others were , and yet thy soul be saved : but thou canst not have a judicial hardnesse of heart upon thee , and be saved : therefore take heed of this sin , and fear lest a worse judgement befal thee than an outward destruction ; for how canst thou escape , if thou neglect so great salvation ? my design is not to direct others to the keeping this day , so much as to keep from prophaning it ; yet if any be perswaded to look to the keeping of it , by way of sanctifying it , i refer them to such learned divines as have spent their labour in it . to those that are not moved by reason , nor perswaded by their own advantages , from polluting this holy day by their wickednesse , debauchednesse , idlenesse , or playing at cards , &c. read gods threatnings , that his judgements may appear to be more just , by his forewarning us from the sin , as well as the punishment . if you will not hearken to me , to hallow the sabbath , then will i kindle a fire in the gates of jerusalem , and it shall devour the palaces thereof , and shall not be quenched . fire in the palace , sayes a divine , is ment , fire in the seats of justice , and the ornaments of a city : fire in the palace , no going in , fire in the gates , no going out ; because justice was not executed upon sabbath-breakes , therefore the place of justice shall be destroyed ; those gates that suffered any co come in to profane the lords day , must be now on fire , that none shall escape his judgements : if we should see our towns flaming with the wrath of god , and the fire of his indignation taking hold of our habitations , it is then in vain to offer to quench it ; it hath been thus in our nation , as in the examples following . if such a judgment be threatned against such as keep not this day ; what must be the fearful looking for of judgment by the profaners of it ? did not god bring all this upon us in this city , yet bring you more wrath upon judah by profaning the sabbath , sayes the prophet . ezekiel mentions the sin of the sabbath , and therefore have i powred my indignation upon them , i have consumed them with the fire of my wrath , and in the 23. chapter is threatned plagues and judgements , and v. 18. the reason ; for they have profaned my sabbaths . if these serve not the end intended , take a prospect of gods terrible examples , which stand as beacons to warn us from the like sins . the poor man that did but gather sticks on the sabbath day , may stand as a monument of gods severity . a noble-man that used to hunt on the lords day , had a child born unto him with a head like a dog , with eares and mouth crying like a hound , which was a very remarkable judgement of god , reports of an husband-man , that went to plough on the lords day , and cleansing his plough with an iron , it stuck so fast in his hand for two years , that he carried it about with him as a signal tostimony of the lords just displeasure against him . another that gathered corn into his barn upon the lords day , had it all with fire from heaven consumed , together with the house . at kimstat in france , 1559. there lived a woman that neither would go nor suffer others of her family to go to church on the lords day ; as she was drying flax , fire issued out of it● but burnt it not : she taking no notice , next sabbath day as she was busie with it , miraculously again fire proceeds out of it , and burnt it ; but was put out , this poor creature was ● blind , as not to see or take warning by these foot-steps of gods mercifull providences , but the third sabbath day , when she was busied about her flax , as before , it fires of it self , and could not be quenched , till she , and two of her children were burnt to death . and in the year 1126. one grinding corn upon the lords days it took fire , and gave him timely warning not to break the sabbath day , by the works of his calling . in helvetia , nigh belessina , three men were playing at dice on the lords day , one called vlrick schraeterus , having hopes of a good cast , because being crost to the losse of much money before ; he now expected fortune , or rather the devill to favour his desire ; and therefore he uttered these horrid words . if fortune do dececeive me now , i will thrust my dagger into the body of god as farre as i can ; o the cursed frames of our naturall tempers , if once god cast the reins into our own wills , the dice favours him not , and presently he drawes his dagger , and with a powerful force throws it up towards heaven , which never was seen more ; and immediately five drops of blood falls before them all upon the table , and as suddenly comes the devill amongst them , carries away this vile wretch , with such a terrible and hideous noyse , as the whole city was astonished at it . those two remaining alive , endevoured to wipe off the blood , but to so little purpose , that the more they rub'd , the more the drops of blood were perspicuous . report carries it all over the city , multitudes flock to see this wonder , who found only the sabbath profaners rubbing the blood to get it out ; these two by decree of the senate of the city , were bound in chains , and as they were led to the prison ; one of them was suddenly struck dead ; from out of whose body , a wonderful number of wormes and vermin was seen to crawle . the city thus terrified with gods judgements , and to the intent that god might be glorified , and a future vengeance averted from the place ; caused the third to be forthwith put to death : and the table with the drops of blood on it , preserved as a monument of gods wrath upon this sin , not only of sabbath-breaking , but swearing , and wicked gameing : o the depth of the knowledge of god , how unsearchable are his judgments , and his wayes past finding out , january 13. 1583. at the bear-garden in southwark on a sabbath day afternoon , many people pressing on the scaffolds to see the sport , forced it suddenly down , with which fall eight were killed , and many spoyled in their bodies , who lived not long after . much like to it was that at risley in bedfordshire , 1607. where many people , rather then resort to hear the the word of the lord by the mouth of his minister , came in great numbers to see a stage-play on the lords day ; the chamber floor fell down , and as a judgment of god upon this sad & wilful sin , many were killed and wounded , thus we see , when the works of piety and mercy are neglected , to prosecute sinne and wickednesse , gods judgements are swift to overtake us ; thereby endeavouring to hedg up our way with thornes , which examples may push us back from the like impiety and vengeance of an angry god . a sad example of gods severity , in ●is hot and sore displeasure against ●abbath-breakers , is recorded of feverton in devonshire ; which place , saith he , , was frequently admonished of the profanation of the lords day , by a market kept the day following ; which without reformation , would inevitably pluck down divine vengeance : a little after the ministers death , upon the third of april 1598. a sudden fire from heaven consumeth the whole town in lesse than half an hour ; excepting only the church , court-house , and almes-house , where was consumed in this fire of gods wrath , four hundred dwelling houses , and fifty soules destroyed . who will not say this was a sad and immediate hand of the lord ? but alas ; what will not poor creatures do , that follow sin with greedinesse ! the same town fourteen years after , on the fifth of august , 1612. for the same sin , was wholly consumed , except some thirty poor peoples houses , school-house , almes-houses : these judgements are not recorded for historical perusall , but to consider of , and remember those on whom the tower of shilo fell . at alcester in warwick-shire where the authour lived , there were of his own knowledge , four remarkable judgements of god . one that upon the publishing of the declaration for sports and pastimes upon the lords day ; a young woman on this day comes to the green , and sayes , she would dance as long as she could stand , and dancing , in the midst of her sin , god struck her with such a violent disease , that in two or three dayes she died in misery ; as an example to all that delight more in serving their own pleasures , and sinfull desires , then to wait upon god , and delight in his wayes . the other of a young man of the same place , and not long after the other ; who on the lords day , immediately after the evening exercise was finished , brings into the street a pair of cudgells , layes them down nigh unto the ministers house , and invited divers to play with him ; who refusing , at length comes one , and taking up the cudgels sayes , though i never played in my life , yet i will play one bout now . a little after , sporting with a young woman , he takes up a birding-piece charged , saying , have at thee ; the piece goes off , and murders her immdiately ; for which , as a deserved judgement , he suffered the law . another of a miller at wootton in the same county , who going forth to a wake , and coming home at night , found his house , mill , and all that he had , burnt down to the ground . a fourth upon mr. clarks own knowledge , is of many wicked and prophane persons , at woolston in the same county ; who on the lords day met at a whitsun-ale , in a smiths barn , and though it grieved the holy man of god , who was minister of the place , as the sodomites did lot , yet he could not help it ; but in their profanenesse they proceeded ; not long after , a fire kindles in the place of this impiety , and burnes down not onely his house , shop , and barn , but rages so vehemently , as it reaches many other houses with ruin , all being chief actors in this horrid profanenesse . in the year 1634. upon a lords day , when the river trent was frozen over , fourteen young men were at foot-ball upon the ice near gainsborough , and meeting all in a cluster together , the wrath of god met with them , and suddenly the ice broke , and they were immediately drowned . oh the justice of the lord , upon the prophaners of his holy day . the same painful and useful author of gods examples , relates a sad one , of gods judgements upon two fellows in essex near brinkely , that were working in a chalk-pit ; one of them boasting that he had vext his mistresse , by coming so late in from his sabbath-dayes sports and recreations ● but sayes he , i will anger her worse next sabbath day : which words were no sooner out , but justice seizes upon him ; for the earth falls upon him , and he never stirred more to his sabbath prophanesse ; his fellowes limbs were broken ; both being sharers in the sin of the sabbath , are made also to be so in their sufferings and punishments . the lord will be known in the paths and wayes of his judgements , to such as will not be led and allured by his tender mercies . and of one mr. ameredith , a gentleman of devonshire , being recovered from a pain which he had suffered in his feet , one of his friends saying he was glad to see him so nimble : the gentleman replies ; he hoped his hopes should not be frustrated of the great expectations he had to dance about the may-pole the next sunday : but behold the lord in a just punishment ( for such impious and wicked resolutions , and no doubt also for his former prophanesse on that day ) smites him suddenly with feeblenesse and faintnesse of heart ere he stirred from the place , and with such a strange dizzinesse in the head , that he was forc't to be led home , and from thence to his last home , before the lords day shined upon him . now tell me , any that can , what little hopes the poor souls thus ushered to the chambers of death , have to keep an eternal sabbath with god , that will not keep his sabbath from prophaning on earth ? truly , these are sad symptoms of gods heavy displeasure against soul as well as body : his mercy ( if any be in such dismal dispensations ) are occult and hidden ; the lord in mercy warn poor sinners to avoid the wrath of such an infinite god , that such as will not be intreated to keep the lords day , as they ought , may be terrified from prophaning of it . another as severe he relates , which together with the three former , are attested by sufficient witnesses . at walton upon thames , in survey , upon a great frost , in the year 1634. three young men having in the forenoon heard a sermon , from 2 cor. 5.10 . we must all appear before the judgement-seat of christ , &c. they went over the ice into an house of disorder , and gaming , where they prophanely spent away the rest of the lords day , and night also , in revelling , and drinking ; the one of them next day boasting merrily of his pleasure upon the sabbath day , and his adventure over the ice . all three on tuesday return the way they went , and upon the ice suddenly sunk to the bottom like stones , one of them onely miraculously preserved . these judgements may be mercies to some that are yet prophaners of the lords day , if god please . at burton upon trent , mr. abberly a godly minister , often took occasion to reprove and threaten such as make no conscience of the lords day , by prophaning it : in a more peculiar manner , such as bought and sold meat upon this day ; which it seems was a sin as great , and as commonly practised in this place , as it was lately at buntingford , where in my journey , some gentlemen of newcastle being my fellow-travellers , we took occasion after sermon to acquaint the minister withal : i pray god it may not be so still , lest such a judgement befal the place , as did this prophane wretch : which was thus . a taylor being a nimble and active man , dwelling at the upper end of the town , must needs in a bravado go to the further end to buy some meat before morning-prayer , but coming home with both his hands full , in the midst of the street he fell down stark dead . i was , sayes doctor teate , an eye-witnesse both of his fall , and burial ▪ and that it wrought a reformation in the place , both among the butchers and others . it was a remarkable providence , and i wish , i say , that other places may be reformed of this bold and impudent sin ; or truly they may repent of it when it s too late . a pious divine : sayes he , the lord hath spoken so loud from heaven against sabbath-sinners , that i cannot be silent ; we hereabout , have had in a short time , terrible tokens of god severe vengeance , upon such as mind not the service of his day : amongst our selves a sad example ; a townsman going to gather cherries on the lords day , fell from the tree , and in the fall was so battered , and bruised , that he never spake more , but lay groaning in his blood , until the next day , and then died . another man , not far from this place , in cherry-time , as he was gathering fruit , fell from the tree , and with the fall was so hurt , that he lay in anguish and dreadful dolour , all the week , till sabbath day , and then ended his miserable life . and of a young man , that on the lords day , in a place nigh unto mr. goodwins , scrambling with others for peares , thrown out in the church-yard , broke his main thigh-bone , and the bone of his leg , on the same side , which was so miserably and strangely broken , as that the bone-setter ( who was a godly man ) told mr. goodwin , though he had seen many , yet he never saw the like . god here dealt in mercy , as well as in judgememt , in that he 〈◊〉 him space to repent , and see his sin . the lord warn us all by these examples . a company of prophane young men in 1635. near salisbury , upon the lords day morning , went to clarington park , to cut down a may-pole , and having loaden the cart with the tree , and themselves with the bitter fruits of sin , they are severely punisht by the hand of god : for entring into the city of salisbury , through a place called milners bars , unawares the cart gives a turn , and the end of the tree , struck one of the sabbath-breakers such a mortal blow that his brains flew out , and there on the place , he yeilded himself a conquered sinner by the just hand of the lord , lying there , as a sad spectacle of gods indignation : and sayes mr clark , i enquired of the truth of this at my first coming to sarum , and very many godly persons in my hearing , attested it to be true , upon their own sight and knowledge . and further , doctor teate , he gives a second example upon his knowledge thus . to my knowledge , at compton-chamberlin in vviltshire , at the house of sir j. penruddock , a dancing match was held on the lords day , where a stranger ushers in , to act his part , and after a few turns about , and a few capers , he in the midst of the sin , falls dead to the ground , before all the company . here was a sad dispensation of providence from gods immediate hand , as many else besides are ; here was no instrument to take off any of the most severe vengeance of god ; and such examples in my mind , should be taken as pregnant testimonies , to let all men know this day ought to be kept as holy . oh take heed of slighting this day , that god so severely punishes in his sore displeasure . and mr. clark upon his own testimony , brings in a sad relation thus . when i lived in cheshire , there was one sir t. s. a papist , and at that time a favorite at court , who at his appearance in the country was very much feasted and entertained by the gentry : once amongst the rest , he was invited to a knights house on the lords day , where many accompanied him : towards evening , the proper time for the deeds of darknesse , they fell to dancing : but look to the finger of god , and see what fell upon their sinful prophanesse ; in the midst of their sport , there was one sir j.d. had a blow given him on his leg by some invisible hand ; for none was seen to touch him , as was attested by all the company : and thus he went lame for a good while after . it may be it set him upright in his practise and conversation ever after ; if it did , it was a good providence that saved him from a more severe judgement . one sabbath day in the afternoon , a match at football was made in bedfordshire : as two of the company was tolling a bell to summon the rest together , some that sat in the porch of the church suddenly hear a terrible clap of thunder , and saw a flash of lightning , coming through an obscure lane ; which flasht in their faces , to their great terrour and fear , so passing on to these that were tolling , it trips up the heels of the one , and leaves him stark dead : the other so blasted , that he died also in few dayes . these are the swift messengers of god , which overtake poor sinners in the way of their sins , before resolution can be proud of any actions ; god will be seen in his wrath and terrour , to all wilfull and impenitent sinners . at tidworth on the lords day , many were met in the church-yard to play at football , where one of this wicked company had his legge broken , which by a secret judgment of the lord so fester'd , that it turned to a gangrene in despight of all means ; whereof he speedily died . stratford upon sluon , was no lesse then twice consumed , by the fire of gods wrath for this sin of sabbath-breaking , and on one and the same day twelve-moneth : besides , they were great contemners and slighters of the word of god by his minister ; a sin that is commonly followed with hardnesse of heart , if no visible judgement get before it . it is recorded of pompey , that he shrunk under the depression of gods sore displeasure , for profaning gods sabbath , and sanctuary . that which god consecrates , must be kept holy , or woe to the profaners of it . and of herod who profaned gods name by his wickednesse , and that , when for some treasure which he supposed to be hid , he caused the sepulcher of gods saints to be pluckt up ; the lord in judgement caused a fire to breake forth of the earth , and destroyed those that he imployed , which when he saw he desisted , and durst go no further . nov. 26. 1621. one richard bourn servant to gasper burch of ely , was so accustomed to travell on the lords day , that he made no conscience of it , seldom or never coming to the assembly to hear the word of god on that day , but went to st. ives market , where he stayed and spent the day ; wher being drunk , he was overtaken by gods justice ; for coming home fraught with commodities , he fell into the river , and was drowned ; a just reward of other sinnes in the punishment of one . in the year 1635. a miller at church-down nigh gloucester , would needs make a whitsun-ale ; notwithstanding the private and publick admonitions of the ministers , and of his christian friends , large provision was made , and musick was set out , as the minister and people in the afternoon went to church ; when prayer and sermon was ended , the drum beat up , musick played , and the people fell a dancing till evening ; at which time , they all resorted to the mill : but o the justice of god! before they had supped , at 9 of the clock , a sudden fire seized on the house which was so sharp , that it burned down his house and mill , and the most of all his other provision , and houshold-stuffe . at baunton in dorcetshire , some being at bowles on the lords day , one threw his bowle at his fellow , and hit him on the ear , whereupon blood issuing out at the other ear , he died ; he that threw it fled . at simsburg in dorsetshire , one rejoycing at the erection of a summer-pole on the lords day , said , he would go see it , though he went through a quickset hedge ; a proverb here going with wood in his arms to cast into the bonfire , profanely uttered these words ; heaven and earth are full of thy glory o lord : he was immediately smitten by the stroak of god , and in two or three days died , and his wife also . at dover , the same day that the book of sports was read in st. james parish , one profanely went to play upon a kit , which drew a rude multitude of the younger sort together . but oh the terrour of the lord ! he was struck with a divine hand , and in two dayes died . two boyes of st. albans , going into verolans pond to swim upon the lords day , one of them was drowned , the other narrowly escaped , as a warning to others . two young men of st , dunstans in the west london , going to swim on the lords day , in september , 1635 , were both drowned . a fellow in sommerset-shire , being to make a tent on the lords day , for a fair , which was to be on the day following , said on the satterday , that he would make it on the morrow ; which was the lords day , and being drunk , he died the same day roaring . one mr. prince chyrurgion of the of the tower of london , did on the lords day ride upon his horse to pace him for a chapman , but see the justice , yet mercy of god , he broke his leg , and lay in great pain and anguish eight weeks ; his son had disswaded him from so great a sin , which now he acknowledged as a judgement of god upon him for prophanation of his day : and ever after he became a more frequent resorter to the congregation , and hearing gods word . at thornton nigh worcester , upon the publishing of the book of sports on the lords day , the people prepared for a solemn prophanation , by ordering purveyors on purpose , to provide things fit for it ; a proper maid went to the mill on satterday , to fetch home the meal on the lords day , the maid passing by a hedge with the meal upon her head , was overtaken with a sudden and sad stroak of divine justice , for she fell down dead into a ditch , there she lay all sabbath day ; on munday she was carried to her grave , where all their intended mirth was buried with her , &c. such a terrour it wrought in the people , and such reformation in the place , that no more summer-ales were kept ; they took down the may-pole , and none durst set it up again , or have to do with the publick prophanation of that day . one at ham nigh kingstone , a scoffer of goodnesse , and a common prophaner of the lords day , did on that holy day presume to visit his grounds , where finding some cattle grazing , which were not his own , & running to drive them out , he fell down , and suddenly died upon the place . upon may day , being the lords day , a maid in cripple-gate london , being married to one that had three children , one of them being at nurse in the country , they did on the lords day spend the whole afternoon in feasting and dancing ; but god is just , and will be seen in his judgements to warn others ; for a week after the plague began in the parish , & the first house it entered into , is this new married couples , with which , both himself , wife , and two children were swept away by death . these things are not to be scoffed at , they are not things of chance or blind fortune ; no , no , they are providence ; and though they are judgements in themselves , yet in the issue , i hope they will be mercifull warnings to others . not far from dorchester , lived one widow jones , whose son richard upon the lords day ( notwithstanding her admonitions , and perswasions did with his companions go to stoak to play ; where after they had done , and drank somewhat freely , they return home ; and by the way fell out , whereupon john edwards one of his consorts stabbed him under the left side , vvhereof at seven a clock the next night , he died . one david price , a servant to t. hill , a grasier , offering to drive his cattel from banbury , was dissvvaded by his landlord , and told him he vvould be stopped , and forced to satisfie the lavv , to vvhich he replied , let me see who will hinder . in the morning he set out , and not yet out of the tovvnes end , one met him , and said , what david , to day , to day ? he ansvvered not , but passed on ; and although he never complained , nor any other saw any signes of the least sicknesse , yet in a stones cast of the town , he fell down dead suddenly , and was buried in banbury church-yard , the next day after . at wicks , betwixt colchester & harwich , upon whitsunday last in the after-noon , two fellowes meeting at the foot-ball , the one killed the other . at oxford , one lords day , one hawkes a butcher would needs mend his ditch , his wife disswaded him from it on that day ; but he would , and did go , but behold the remarkable justice of god! he is struck dead in the ditch : a sad example , amongst other of gods terrible judgements , one mr. powel upon the lords day did at lemster serve a writ of sub poena upon one , mr. shuit a gentleman , ( which he did on purpose upon that day , as is credibly reported ) as soon as he came out of the church into the church-yard ; to whom mr. shuit said , i thought you had been an honester man , than to do so upon this day ; who replied , i hope i am never a whit the more dishonest ; which he had no sooner spake , but suddenly he fell down dead , and never spake word more ; his wife seeing it , was immediately struck with sicknesse . may 31. 1635. being the lords day , one rich. clark apprentice to timothy donorell of sherston in wiltshire , was drunk in company with one h. parrum , to whom he said he vvould hang or drown himself ; desiring to know which was the best , who replied , that he hoped he would do neither : but oh the judgements of the lord upon the prophaners of this day , and upon the sin of drunkennsse ! for on monday morning , he was seen going thorough the town , as if he were going about his masters businesse , and having got up upon the midst of a tree without the town , he there did hang himself . at billericay in essex , one theo. pease the ministers son , would needs ring the bells on the sabbath day , but was hindred by the officers ; the next lords day , he had gathered many together , and in despite of any , would ring , and whilst he was ringing , a giddinesse surprized him like one drunk , of which he fell sick , and in three dayes died . the tapster and chamberlain of queens head southwark , rode upon the lords day to be merry , and having been too bold with drink , one of them riding homewards , fell off his horse , and broke his neck . being the lords day , an apothecaries man in lime-street london , rid with another to barnet , to be merry , and being drunk , upon their return they met with a man travelling , to whom offering some abuse , the man strikes one of their horses , one of them bid the other run him through , which with his rapier he did through the left breast , so that he fell down dead ; and being both apprehended , they confessed , and were sent to new-gate . at baildon in yorkshire , two men sitting drinking at a wake , they quarrelled with one another ; but being parted , and one of them sitting by the fire side , the other presently falls upon him with a hatchet and cleaves him down the back , insomuch as his bowels fell forth ; the murderer being hotly pursued leapt into a river , and drowned himself . four travelling from london to maidenhead , one of them would needs travel on the lords day , the rest refused , spending the sabbath there ; this man rode in the morning to henly , and there heard a sermon , after that travelled again in the afternoon , and on his way , leading his horse down a smooth descent , his horse suddenly fell , and broke both his fore legs ; he was suddenly amazed at so strange and unexpected a providence , and could not but attribute it to the immediate hand of god : whereupon seeing him past recovery , he knockt his horse on the head , and so left him . the next day , being overtaken at abington by his fellow-travellers , they wondering , demanded the reason how it came to passe , he was no further on his way ? he smote his breast , and related the strange providence of god , towards him , saying , he had heard many a good sermon , but none of them ever wrought so much upon his conscience , as this providence of god did : and since it was no worse , it should be an example and a warning to him for ever after . oh that it might be so to others , that may heare of it or read it . in the year 1644. was a beer-brewer ( dwelling in giles-criplegate london , nigh unto the white horse ) that usually followed the sinful practise of brewing upon the lords day , for which he was warned , and told of the greatnesse of the sin , and how severe god was to such sinful practises , but he reformed not : once upon a lords day at noon , the reverend m. t. vveld , lecturer of the said place ( from whom i had the relation ) went into the house , and taking them at work , lovingly , yet sharpely , admonished them , to whom they promised to do so no more : within a sabbath or two after , the same servant of the house , which before was taken in the act , was now again found guilty of the same sin ; but mark the justice of the lord ; for setting fire to the copper , when it was scalding hot , he fell over into it , and was immediatly scalded to death . another , which i had from the same hand . a cook in the same parish , using to make it his trade , on the lords day , to heat ovens , and bake meat , whereby all the family was imployed as on other dayes , without regard to the lords day , unlesse to his own profit ; never , or seldom , frequenting the word preached ; was often admonished , yet went on in his sin : one christmas day , which fell upon the lords day , as he was working , and labouring ( as if no time were unlawful to gain the world , though he neglected his eternal soul ) he was consumed to death by fire . a vintner , that was a great swearer and drunkard , as he was standing at his own door upon the lords day , with a pot in his hand to invite his guests , was by the wonderful justice and power of god , carried into the aire with a whirlwind , and never seen nor heard of more . much might be said ; but my work swells upon the loome , yet have i left many example , to have the choice . i shall conclude with one word , and that is to pray us to consider , that god blessed ( that is , say divines , with intention of bestowing favours and benefits ) this day : o let 's then labour for gods blessing above all things ! read those promises in esay , 56.4 , 5 , 6 , 7. jer. 17.24 , 25. let us labour for hearts to attend with delight to his lawes and ordinances ; when once we leave off ordinances , i durst almost say , we are in a more sure way to ruin , than the most outward prophane . they are mercies not so much prized as they would , if we wanted them ; a confluence brings a glut , and that a disgust of the most relishing mercies . a ten or five mile sermon formerly , tasted sweeter than now greater opportunities of grace and mercy nigher hand , and within our reach : i say , let us set a high value upon the favour and means of conveyances : let 's love and honour the faithful ministers of the word : to love them , is to love to hear them ; hate thy minister , and then follows contempt of the word , and so hardnesse of heart : this is commonly the sad effect of this sin . scoffers of religion , the ministers of his precious gospel and people , have been made spectacles of gods anger ; judgements are prepared for scorners , prov. 19.29 . they are blessed that sit not in their seat , psal. 1.1 . one present in this congregation , ( sayes a reverend divine ) was an eye-witnesse of a woman scoffing at another for piety , immediately she had her tongue strucken with a palsie , and in two dayes died thereof . value therefore , i say , thy minister , for he is set over thee for to watch for the good of thy soul ; the love of the minister , and the word , is no small help to the keeping of the lords day . i conclude with the psalmist . consider this all ye that forget god , lest he teare you in pieces , and there be none to deliver you . reader , these following sad examples came to my hand , since the printing of the former part of the treatise ; which i thought good to insert here . on thursday , in the last week save one , of june 1620. a house was burnt down at hether set in norfolk : there being a jar in the morning between the man and his wife ( as is said ▪ ) the woman wished that her husband going out , might never return to his house ; which was burnt down e're he came home . on the 22th of july 1627. at barnham-broom , some would needs draw up a bell ( it being the lords day ) into his place , that it might be ready against the bell-founder came on friday , that so they might not hinder their businesse . some went unwillingly to it , but others went forewarned , and did it : when it was up , he that was one of the readiest w. baynes , setting his foot on a board that brake or slipped , fell and beat out his braines , and miserably ended his dayes . aug. 6. 1627. at scolebridge , a man drunken being fastned on a cart , the horse turning suddenly , overthrew the cart into the river , loaden with lime upon the drunken man , where he was drowned , and fearfully burnt with lime . in the former part of summer , a man being drunk at vvimondham , fell into a watery , miry place , and was drowned . another drunkard vomiting , a sow followed him , and eat up his vomit , at last falling from his horse , the sow pulled out his throat , and so he miserably died : reported by the judge at the assizes . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a87056e-420 amos 3.6 . psal. 9.16 . notes for div a87056e-720 epistle to mr. murcots wo. * mayor of exceter . mr. mantons epist. to his life & death . * suspected to favour puritans . vvilsons . k. james . notes for div a87056e-2010 tit. 2.11 , a 2. notes for div a87056e-3140 turkish hist. wilson . k. ja. prov. 23.29 . r. junius . l. bacon . d. taylor . esay 28.1 , 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 , 19. chap. 22.12 , 13 , 14. chap. 5.22 . joel 1.5 . 1 king. 16.9 , 10. 2 sam 13.28 . gen. 9.21 . peards . theatre . non ut vivat fed ut bibat . mr. nealson , minister , his letter to mr. taylor in theatre of gods judgements . mr. ward , his wo to drunkards . d.t. taylor . mr. beadles diary . mr. clerks examples mr. young . mr. stubs anatomy of abuses mr. young . doctor beards theatre . mr. trapp . m. l. marg math. 5.34 . prov. 6.34 . levit. 24.14 . hosea 2.4 . marg psal. 109.13 . neh. 13 , 2. mal 3 4. mr. beadles diary mr. ridsley serm. r. junius . theatre of gods judgements . mr. bolton . theatre of gods judgements . mr. clerks examples . theatre of gods judgements . luthers colloquia . theatre of gods judgements . mr. terry's east-india voyage . theatre of gods judgements . theatre of histor● . theatr. gods judgements . stow. cron. theatre of god , judgements . fox acts . theatre histo. theatr. of gods judgements . wilson k. james . sin stigmatised . sword against swearers . dr. williams true church . mr. nowel . these two i have from a reverend divine of this county . the relation from his brothers own mouth now alive . 1645. 1627. mr. burtons tragedy , &c. mat. 12.8 . exod. 20. exod. 16.23 . & 31.15 . & 35.3 . ezech. 22.26 . isay 56.2 . & 58.13 . rom. 10 , 14 , 17. mr. goodwin . mr. cawdry . jer. 17 , 27. neh. 13.18 . ezek. 22.26 . & 31. theatr● of history . theatre of gods judgements . mr. clarks examples . rom. 11.33 . theatre of gods judgements . luke 13.4 mr. clarks examples 1657. mr. p. goodwin . dies dominicus redivivus . 117. mr , clarks examples . dr. twiss on sabb. dr. beards theatre . c. tacitus , josephus . mr. nelson minister , his letter to mr. taylor in theatre of judgements . 1634. 1634. 1635. july , 19. 1635. july , 1654. 1634. july , 1634. octoct . 1633. 1634. 1634. january 1634. march , 1634. june 1635 feb. 9. 1634. april 18. 1635. mr. weld . mr. clark . 2 king. 1. 2 king. 2 : mr. greenhill , on ezekiel . psal. 50.22 